Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Penalise Ganesh Mandal For Using Banned Laser And Beam Lights During Immersion Procession
Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Penalise Ganesh Mandal For Using Banned Laser And Beam Lights During Immersion Procession
Pune, November 27, 2025: The Sangvi Police have taken action against a Ganesh mandal in Pimpri-Chinchwad for violating the ban on high-intensity laser and beam lights during the 2025 Ganesh Visarjan procession. The prohibition had been imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner to prevent safety hazards during festive events.
Ahead of Ganeshotsav, senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), Assistant Commissioner of Police (Pimpri Division) and the Senior Inspector of Sangvi Police Station, had held meetings with all mandal representatives. They were clearly instructed—verbally and in writing—not to use laser or beam lights during performances or processions. The order was also officially circulated within the police station limits.
However, on September 4, 2025, between 8:30 PM and 11:45 PM, Bhairavnath Mitra Mandal of VaidvastI, Pimple Gurav, allegedly used strong beam lights and laser lights during their Ganesh immersion procession on the public road. The lights posed potential harm to the eyes and violated the commissioner’s ban.
As a result, Sangvi Police registered an FIR under Section 223 of BNSS (equivalent to IPC 188) against mandal president Gopi Pandharinath Lokhande, 34. After gathering adequate evidence, police produced the accused before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Pimpri. On November 19, 2025, the court sentenced him to a fine of ₹1,000 and two days’ simple imprisonment.
The action was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Vinaykumar Chaubey, Joint Commissioner Shashikant Mahawarkar, Additional Commissioner Sarang Awhad, DCP Sandeep Aatole and ACP Sachin Hire. The team executing the case included Senior PI Jitendra Koli, PI (Crime) Amol Nandekar, PSI Rohit Patil, API Vijay Shelar, and constables Vishal Chaudhary, Pramod Jarad and Tushar Salunkhe.
Police have warned that similar action will be taken against any mandal or individual using prohibited laser or beam lights in the future.
