In a shocking turn of events in the Hinjawadi bus fire incident, where four people tragically lost their lives, it has been revealed that the driver, Janardan Hambardikar, allegedly pre-meditated the incident. Senior Police Inspector Kanhaiya Thorat of Hinjawadi Police Station stated on Thursday that Hambardikar deliberately set the vehicle ablaze, attempting to disguise it as an accident.
According to police investigations, Hambardikar had placed highly inflammable chemicals under his seat and intentionally started the fire. His motive, as revealed by authorities, was linked to grievances against his colleagues, stemming from delayed salary payments, the absence of a Diwali bonus, extra work, and daily disputes. It appears that revenge against his co-workers was the primary catalyst for the horrifying incident.
The fire broke out on Wednesday, claiming the lives of four employees of Vyoma Graphics, a company based in the Hinjawadi area of Pune district. Six others were injured as the minibus caught fire while transporting employees from Warje to Hinjawadi. The emergency exit at the rear of the bus was unable to open, contributing to the fatalities.
The victims—Shankar Shinde, Rajan Chavan, Gurudas Lokare, and Subhash Bhosale—were among 14 employees in the bus when the tragedy occurred. Following these revelations, Pimpri Chinchwad Police have registered an FIR against Hambardikar under Sections 103 and 105 of the BNS. The accused has been arrested, and further investigations are ongoing.