Chili powder heist on Pune-Solapur highway: ₹5.95 lakh looted from van
Synopsis
Three motorcycle-borne robbers blinded a 24-year-old cash collector with chili powder on the Pune-Solapur highway and fled with nearly ₹6 lakh — mirroring a method used in a ₹70 lakh heist near Delhi's Gulabi Bagh. The repeat pattern across cities points to an organised criminal playbook, not random street crime.
Key Takeaways
Three unidentified men robbed ₹5,95,600 from Pawan Ashok Patil , 24 , on the Pune-Solapur highway near Sahajpur village, Daund tehsil on Thursday, 6 November .
Attackers rode a black motorcycle , forced the vehicle to stop, used chili powder to blind the victim, and broke open the storage compartment.
A case has been registered at Yavat Police Station under Sections 309(4), 126(2), and 3(5) of the BNS ; suspects remain at large.
The same method was used in a ₹70 lakh robbery near Gulabi Bagh underpass, North Delhi ; Delhi Police arrested six people and recovered ₹30.23 lakh .
Experts and police note the incidents follow a coordinated pattern targeting cash-carrying individuals without security escorts.
Three unidentified miscreants carried out a brazen highway robbery near Sahajpur village in Daund tehsil, Pune district, on Thursday evening, throwing chili powder into a driver's eyes and making off with ₹5,95,600 in cash. The organised attack on the Pune-Solapur highway at approximately 7 pm has prompted police to register a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
How the Attack Unfolded
The victim, 24-year-old Pawan Ashok Patil, a resident of Haveli in Pune district, was driving home after collecting payments from four electrical shops. Three unidentified men riding a black motorcycle tailed his vehicle before forcing him to stop on the highway.
Once the vehicle halted, one assailant held Patil in place, a second pried open the car's storage compartment, and a third hurled chili powder directly into his eyes, temporarily incapacitating him. The attackers seized a bag containing ₹5,95,600 and fled toward Pune.
Police Response and Case Registered
A formal complaint has been lodged at Yavat Police Station under Sections 309(4), 126(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The three perpetrators remain at large, and police are reportedly scanning CCTV footage along the highway corridor to identify the motorcycle and its riders.
A Disturbing Pattern Across Cities
This incident is not an isolated one. Chili-powder robberies targeting individuals carrying cash have raised alarm across multiple Indian cities. Notably, Delhi Police recently arrested six individuals — including the alleged mastermind — in connection with a ₹70 lakh robbery near the Gulabi Bagh underpass in North Delhi, in which a scooter rider was similarly blinded with chili powder. Authorities recovered ₹30.23 lakh in cash from those arrested. The Delhi case underscores that this method is organised, pre-planned, and being replicated across geographies.
Why This Matters
The modus operandi — a motorcycle-borne team, a targeted victim known to carry cash, chili powder as a non-lethal but disabling weapon, and a swift escape — points to a coordinated criminal network rather than opportunistic crime. Cash-in-transit robberies of this kind exploit the vulnerability of small traders and collection agents who lack armoured vehicles or security escorts. Law enforcement analysts say the pattern demands coordinated inter-state intelligence sharing, particularly given the similar arrests in Delhi.
Police are expected to widen the net with help from district surveillance units; the outcome of the investigation will be closely watched.
Point of View
Traders, and collection agents move billions in cash daily with no security infrastructure. Until law enforcement treats these incidents as networked organised crime rather than local theft, the highway will remain a hunting ground.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Pune-Solapur highway robbery?
Three motorcycle-borne robbers threw chili powder into the eyes of 24-year-old Pawan Ashok Patil near Sahajpur village in Daund tehsil on Thursday evening and stole ₹5,95,600 he had collected from electrical shops. The attackers broke open his vehicle's storage compartment and fled toward Pune.
Where has a case been filed and what charges apply?
A case has been registered at Yavat Police Station in Pune district under Sections 309(4), 126(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) . The three accused remain unidentified and are currently at large.
Is chili powder robbery a wider trend in India?
Yes. Similar incidents have been reported in multiple cities, most notably in North Delhi , where a gang used chili powder to rob a scooter rider of ₹70 lakh near the Gulabi Bagh underpass. Delhi Police subsequently arrested six individuals , including the alleged mastermind, and recovered ₹30.23 lakh .
Who was the victim and why was he targeted?
The victim, Pawan Ashok Patil , was a 24-year-old resident of Haveli , Pune district, who was returning home after collecting payments from four electrical shops. He was travelling alone, making him a vulnerable target for the robbers.
What should cash-carrying individuals on highways be aware of?
Authorities have not issued specific advisories yet, but the pattern suggests robbers monitor individuals known to carry large sums. Cash collectors, traders, and delivery personnel are advised to vary routes, travel with company where possible, and report suspicious motorcycles following them to the nearest police station.
