Crime Clashes Crackdowns Nagpur Police face a challenging 2025

 

 

 

 

The year 2025 turned out to be one of the toughest tests for the Nagpur Police, as the city grappled with rising crime, communal tension, farmer unrest, financial scams, and road accidents. On March 17, central Nagpur was rocked by communal violence after protests by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal over the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb spiralled out of control. The situation worsened when rumours spread about a religious text being burned. Clashes broke out in Mahal, Chitnis Park, and Hansapuri, leaving one person dead and more than 30 injured. Police made multiple arrests and formed 18 special teams to track down those involved.

 

Later in the year, during October and November, large-scale farmer agitations led by former minister Bacchu Kadu brought traffic to a standstill on NH-44 (Wardha Road) as protesters demanded farm loan waivers. Around 60 agitators were booked, and heavy police bandobast was deployed to prevent the protests from escalating. Security around the Vidhan Bhavan also remained tight throughout the year, with AI-assisted surveillance and additional personnel deployed during Assembly sessions. 

 

 

The city was further shaken by a series of brutal murders. Sixteen-year-old Angel John was stabbed to death by her jilted lover in Ajni. In Imambada, 53-year-old Naresh Walde lost his life while confronting harassers, while in Kalmeshwar, Balya Gujar was shot dead using an illegal firearm. Road safety emerged as another major concern. Fatal accidents on Wardha Road, the Samruddhi Expressway, and the Katol-Warud Road claimed many lives. In response, police launched the Operation U-Turn traffic drive, which reportedly led to a significant reduction in fatalities. 

 

 

On the enforcement front, Nagpur Police carried out several high-impact operations. Under ‘Operation Thunder’, over 1.7 tonnes of narcotics were seized and 730 people were arrested. Police also busted international cyber fraud rackets involving transactions worth Rs 20 crore. The investigation into the Shalarth ID scam exposed fake teacher recruitment and salary frauds, leading to the arrest of key accused, including Ulhas Narad, Parag Nanaji Pudke, and Nilesh Meshram. 

 

 

The year also saw major administrative reshuffles within the police force. DCPs Nityanand Jha, Rishikesh Reddy Singa, Rahul Madane, and Niketan Kadam were transferred. Mehak Swami took charge of the Economic Offences Wing, while Shashikant Satav headed the Special Branch. IPS officer Navinchandra Reddy was appointed Joint Commissioner of Police, replacing Nisar Tamboli, with the mandate to strengthen law and order and oversee major operations. 

 

 

 

In rural Nagpur, SP Dr Harssh Poddar led an aggressive crackdown on crime. Police paraded 631 criminals, invoked MCOCA against organised gangs, seized illegal liquor worth Rs 12.5 lakh, and carried out nearly 1,700 preventive actions ahead of local body elections. To strengthen policing, six new rural police stations were also sanctioned. Overall, 2025 stood out as a year of relentless pressure, sustained enforcement, and complex law-and-order challenges for the Nagpur Police. 

 

 

Central agencies also maintained a strong presence in and around Nagpur during 2025, stepping up action against corruption and financial fraud. Rishikesh Sonawane took charge as Superintendent of Police of the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch in Nagpur. In June, the CBI registered an FIR over illegal excavation on CONCOR land, estimating a loss of Rs 1.62 crore. Earlier, in March, the Enforcement Directorate attached properties worth Rs 13.71 crore in connection with the Tadoba safari scam, where a company allegedly cheated tourists of Rs 16 crore. The ED also pursued several loan and banking fraud cases, attaching properties worth crores under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Towards the end of the year, in December, the CBI booked WCL manager Sandeep Singh and his wife Sweta in a disproportionate assets case, alleging that their assets exceeded known sources of income by Rs 45.23 lakh.