Man Made a Fake Bomb To Arrange Money For Medical Treatment
A debt-ridden Pune man allegedly created a fake bomb scare at a hospital to spread panic and later extort money for his medical treatment.
Shivaji Rathod, a roadside shoe seller from Solapur living in Pune, allegedly created a fake bomb scare at a Pune hospital after being crushed by debt and medical expenses.
Struggling with loans of over ?12 lakh, losses in a local “Bhishi” savings scheme, and a serious illness requiring nearly ?7 lakh in treatment, police say Rathod planned to spread panic and later demand money from the hospital management.
Using online videos, he assembled a bomb-like device with pipes, wires, adhesive tape and a digital timer bought online — all for around ?400. Ironically, the clue that exposed him was a small UPI payment he made while buying extra adhesive tape during assembly.
On 13 May, Rathod placed the device inside a washroom near the ICU of Ushakiran Superspecialty Hospital in Pune’s Hadapsar area. A hospital staff member spotted the suspicious object, triggering panic and a massive emergency response involving the BDDS, ATS, dog squads and crime branch officials.
The device was later destroyed in a controlled blast and was confirmed to be a dummy bomb with no explosive material.
Police launched a statewide manhunt involving nearly 1,000 personnel. CCTV footage showed Rathod lingering near the hospital after planting the device and even visiting a salon to change his appearance.
He later tried escaping by boarding the Howrah-bound Azad Hind Express from Nagpur, allegedly planning to flee to Nepal via his sister’s home. However, ATS and RPF teams tracked and arrested him at Nagpur railway station before he could escape.
Investigators later recovered timer packaging from his residence and also found around two kilograms of cannabis, which is being investigated separately.
Pune Police clarified there was no terror angle. According to investigators, Rathod’s motive was driven by desperation, debt and fear over mounting medical expenses.
