Pune |
A strange drama unfolded in Pune when former Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant’s son, Rishiraj Sawant, was reported missing—only to be found flying to Bangkok on a private jet. What started as a kidnapping alert soon turned into a case of miscommunication, luxury travel, and political controversy.
What Happened?
On Monday afternoon, Rishiraj, 32, left the JSPM campus in Narhe, Pune, without informing his family. A few hours later, Pune Police received a call claiming that he had been kidnapped. His family was worried and confused, and authorities immediately registered a missing person case.
But the truth was far from what everyone expected. Rishiraj was not kidnapped—he was on a private jet to Bangkok with two friends.
Flight to Bangkok, But a Forced U-Turn
As panic spread, the police quickly started tracing him. Their investigation revealed that Rishiraj and his friends had boarded a chartered flight to Bangkok.
The flight cost a whopping ₹78.5 lakh and was already in the air, near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, when authorities intervened. Acting on official orders, the civil aviation department instructed the pilot to return to Pune.
The plane landed back at Pune International Airport around 8:30 pm, where police officials were waiting to question Rishiraj.
Why Did He Leave Without Informing Anyone?
When asked about his sudden trip, Rishiraj told the police that he had recently traveled to Dubai for business. He feared his family would not approve of another international trip so soon, so he decided to leave secretly.
According to him, this was just a business trip, and there was no reason for panic. But the way the situation unfolded has raised serious questions.
Political Controversy: Was Power Misused?
This incident has sparked political criticism. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) accused Tanaji Sawant of using his influence to turn a personal family issue into a police and aviation matter.
Opposition leaders are questioning:
- Why was such quick action taken to bring back a private flight?
- Would the police have responded the same way if this was a common citizen?
- Was this an unnecessary use of government resources?
Some political leaders have even demanded an inquiry into whether any laws were misused to track down and recall the flight.
What’s Next?
The Pune Police will continue their investigation and question Rishiraj further. Meanwhile, the public debate continues—was this just a misunderstanding, or does this highlight the privilege and power that some people enjoy?
👉 What do you think? Should police have acted this fast, or was this an unfair use of power? Let us know in the comments!
