Pune man kills mother over liquor money, arrested in Vishrantwadi
Synopsis
A 32-year-old Pune man allegedly stabbed his mother to death over a refusal to give him money for liquor — a grim reminder of how alcohol dependency and untreated mental illness can turn fatal within households. Police have arrested the accused and registered a murder case, but questions linger about the mental health support systems that might have prevented it.
Key Takeaways
Sagar Suresh Haribhakt, 32 , was arrested for allegedly stabbing his mother Savita Suresh Haribhakt, 50 , to death in Vishrantwadi, Pune .
The incident occurred between 9:30 pm and 10 pm on Saturday, 29 August , following a dispute over money to buy liquor.
Savita was stabbed in the neck and died on the spot; a case was registered under Section 103(1) of the BNS .
Police noted the accused has reported psychological and behavioural issues ; investigation is ongoing.
A similar incident in Greater Noida in June also involved a mentally unwell youth who attacked his mother before dying by suicide.
A 32-year-old man was arrested after allegedly stabbing his mother to death following a dispute over money to buy liquor in the Vishrantwadi area of Pune, Maharashtra, police confirmed on Sunday, 30 August. The incident occurred between 9:30 pm and 10 pm on Saturday, making it one of the starkest instances of domestic violence linked to alcohol dependency reported in Pune this year.
What Happened
The deceased has been identified as Savita Suresh Haribhakt, 50, and the accused as her son Sagar Suresh Haribhakt, 32. According to police, Sagar demanded money from his mother to purchase liquor. When she refused, the argument reportedly escalated and Sagar attacked her with a knife, stabbing her in the neck. Savita died on the spot.
Senior Police Inspector Rajendra Panhale of Vishrantwadi police station confirmed the incident and the arrest.
Case Registered, Accused in Custody
The Vishrantwadi police registered a case against Sagar under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to murder. He was arrested shortly after the incident. Police noted that the accused reportedly has psychological and behavioural issues; further investigation is underway.
A Pattern of Similar Incidents
This is not an isolated case. In a comparable incident in June, a 21-year-old in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly stabbed his mother before jumping to his death from his fifth-floor flat. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Central Noida, Swatantra Kumar Singh, had confirmed that the youth, identified as Sagar Yadav, was mentally unwell. His mother sustained minor injuries and was stable; Yadav was declared brought dead at a nearby hospital.
Notably, both cases involve young men with reported mental health concerns, raising questions about the adequacy of community-level mental health support and alcohol abuse intervention programmes in urban Maharashtra and beyond.
What Investigators Are Looking At
Police sources indicate that the focus of the ongoing probe will be on establishing the sequence of events and examining the accused's mental health history. Authorities have not yet indicated whether a psychiatric evaluation has been ordered for Sagar. The case is being handled by the Vishrantwadi police station under the jurisdiction of the Pune city police.
Point of View
And alcohol dependency is among the least-addressed components of that gap at the community level. Urban police stations are increasingly first responders to what are, at root, public health failures. Until mental health screening and de-addiction support are embedded in local governance — not left to family or chance — incidents like Vishrantwadi will recur with grim regularity.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Pune mother stabbing case?
Sagar Suresh Haribhakt, a 32-year-old resident of Vishrantwadi, Pune, was arrested for allegedly stabbing his mother Savita Suresh Haribhakt, 50, to death on the night of 29 August. Police confirmed the arrest on 30 August.
What was the reason behind the Vishrantwadi stabbing?
According to police, Sagar demanded money from his mother to buy liquor. When she refused, the argument escalated and he allegedly attacked her with a knife, stabbing her in the neck. She died on the spot.
Under which law has the accused been charged?
The Vishrantwadi police registered a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with the offence of murder. The accused is currently in custody and investigation is underway.
Did the accused have any mental health history?
Police noted that Sagar Haribhakt reportedly has psychological and behavioural issues. However, authorities have not yet publicly confirmed whether a formal psychiatric evaluation has been ordered as part of the investigation.
Has a similar incident happened elsewhere recently?
Yes. In June, a 21-year-old in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly stabbed his mother before jumping to his death from his fifth-floor flat. That youth, identified as Sagar Yadav, was also described as mentally unwell, according to ADCP Swatantra Kumar Singh.
