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Man placed IED in Pune hospital to extort money for medical treatment, says police
Police say a man placed an improvised explosive device at Ushakiran Hospital in Pune to extort money for medical treatment after lacking funds. He was arrested on the Shalimar Express with help from the Railway Protection Force, the device was neutralised by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, and the investigation is led by Pune police, Crime Branch, and Maharashtra ATS. Key dates include a hospital visit on May 10, discovery of the IED on May 13, and the arrest by May 15.
Why It Matters
The case highlights violent extortion attempts tied to medical access and shows cross-agency cooperation in counter-terrorism/crime investigations in India.
Timeline
3 Events
May 15, 2026: Rathod nabbed from Shalimar Express; timer-case found in shop; held in Nagpur
May 15, 2026
Shivaji Rathod was nabbed from the Shalimar Express by Maharashtra ATS with assistance from the Railway Protection Force while attempting to flee. The train was travelling from Mumbai LTT to Shalimar near Howrah in West Bengal. Police say his identity was established during the probe, and an empty case of the timer used in the IED was found during a search of his shop. He was held in Nagpur by an ATS team as investigators from Pune police, its Crime Branch, and the Maharashtra ATS continued the investigation.
May 13, 2026: IED found at Ushakiran Hospital; bomb squad neutralises device; probe begins
May 13, 2026
An improvised explosive device is found in the washroom of Ushakiran Hospital in Pune's Hadapsar area on Wednesday evening. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad neutralised the device, and the probe into the case begins.
May 10, 2026: Rathod visits Ushakiran Hospital for treatment; extortion plan forms
May 10, 2026
Shivaji Rathod visits Ushakiran Hospital in Pune for medical treatment. Police say the cost estimate was high and he lacked funds, prompting him to hatch a plan to plant an improvised explosive device at the hospital in order to extort money.