Pune/Lonavala, 16th November 2025: Tension escalated in Lonavala on Saturday evening after a violent clash between local cab drivers and outstation operators, with a video of the assault circulating widely on social media and sparking public outrage. The Lonavala Rural Police (Pune rural police) have detained a man identified as Sonya Gupta, who is seen in the viral clip vandalizing a cab and assaulting its driver.
According to police, the incident occurred around 7:45 pm when Gupta allegedly confronted an outstation cab driver. In the video, the driver can be heard pleading, тАЬDada, I went to have breakfast. DonтАЩt break the car,тАЭ but the attacker continued to smash the rear and front windshields with a stone and also punched the driver repeatedly. The assault was reportedly recorded by GuptaтАЩs friends on a mobile phone, and those clips have since gone viral, drawing widespread condemnation.
Lonavala Rural Police Inspector Dinesh Tayde confirmed GuptaтАЩs detention and said further action is underway. тАЬWe have taken him into custody and the investigation is in progress,тАЭ he said.
Local cab drivers claim this is not an isolated case. They allege that outstation drivers have faced similar assaults and threats in the past. Some even accuse certain local leaders and elected representatives of shielding those involved in such attacks, raising questions about the growing culture of impunity.
тАЬHow right is it to commit such hooliganism? Supporting such people is also a crime,тАЭ one of the affected drivers said, demanding stronger police intervention.
The Lonavala Rural Police have initiated a detailed inquiry into the incident and are verifying claims of repeated assaults and alleged political patronage.
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