Drone, Drama & a Highway Jam: Satara Youths Booked After Filming Reel on Busy Flyover
Drone, Drama & a Highway Jam: Satara Youths Booked After Filming Reel on Busy Flyover
In an audacious attempt to celebrate the purchase of a new car, a group of five young men — including one minor — found themselves on the wrong side of the law after turning a busy stretch of a national highway in Satara into their personal film set. Their celebration, which involved halting traffic and using a drone to shoot a social media reel, has now led to criminal charges.
The incident took place around 4 PM on July 10 on the flyover near the Bombay Restaurant junction in Satara. What seemed like a flashy moment of online glory soon spiraled into legal trouble after the reel went viral, drawing public attention and swift police action.
According to the Satara city police, the stunt was orchestrated by Om Pravin Jadhav (21), a resident of Tarale in Patan Taluka, currently living near Old RTO Chowk in Satara. Having recently bought a new car, Om decided to commemorate the occasion in style. He called up his friends — Kushal Subhash Kadam (20) from Sadar Bazar, Soham Mahesh Shinde (20) from Shinganapur (Man Taluka), and Nikhil Damodar Mahangade (27) from Parkhande (Wai Taluka) — and together, they planned an elaborate shoot.
The group gathered at the flyover and blocked the lane heading from Kolhapur to Pune by parking their vehicles across the road. A drone, owned by Soham and operated by Nikhil, hovered above to capture the entire moment. The shoot, although brief and lasting just two to three minutes, caused a traffic jam and endangered public safety.
Once their footage was secured, the group quickly cleared out, but the damage was already done. The video, shared online by the minor among them, rapidly gained traction, triggering public outrage and prompting police to investigate.
Satara police wasted no time. Multiple teams were deployed to track down the individuals involved. Acting under the supervision of Police Inspectors Rajendra Maske and Sachin Mhetre, and supported by API Shamrao Kale, API Abhijeet Yadav, PSI Sudhir More, and constables Sujit Bhosale, Suhas Pawar, Ramesh Shikhare, and Nilesh Jadhav, the team managed to identify and detain all five involved.
The youths have been booked for multiple violations — from obstructing a national highway to flying a drone without proper authorization. The police confirmed that the entire stunt was pre-planned, with the intent of creating a viral video to boost their online fame.
Fame Over Safety?
What emerged from the investigation was a clear motive: clout. The group believed that creating flashy reels like this one could help them build a name for themselves and attract potential clients wanting similar content. This desire for attention led them to risk not just their own safety, but also that of unsuspecting commuters on a busy highway.
This incident is a sharp reminder of how far some are willing to go for digital fame — sometimes at the expense of law, safety, and public order. While the video may have brought them brief attention online, it has also landed them in legal hot water that could have long-term consequences.
The Satara police have issued a stern warning to others who might consider similar acts, emphasizing that such misuse of public infrastructure and illegal drone activity will be dealt with strictly.
