Pune Court Denies Bail in Metro Tunnel Damage Case

A sessions court in Pune has denied anticipatory bail to a homeowner and a borewell contractor involved in a case of damage to an underground metro tunnel in Shukrawar Peth. The court observed that the matter involved serious safety concerns and damage to public infrastructure, and therefore did not merit protection from arrest at this stage.

The incident took place in the past month when borewell drilling was carried out on a plot where an old structure had been demolished near Khadak police station. During the activity, a six-inch hole was created in the underground metro tunnel on the Shivajinagar Swargate corridor, which runs several feet below the surface.

Officials informed that the drilling was undertaken without prior approval from metro authorities. The act resulted in structural damage to the tunnel and led to water seepage onto the tracks. This raised concerns over the safety of ongoing metro operations as well as the long-term stability of the structure. The loss to public property has been estimated at around INR 2.5 lakh.

The prosecution submitted that the accused were aware of the metro alignment beneath the site but still proceeded with the drilling work. It further stated that such actions could endanger lives and disrupt critical urban transport infrastructure. The court accepted these arguments and noted that granting anticipatory bail could affect the ongoing investigation and evidence collection.

On the other hand, the defence argued that no new borewell was drilled and that the work was limited to existing borewell-related activity. It also stated that the accused had no criminal background and lacked any intention to cause damage. The defence added that there was no clear communication regarding restrictions related to underground metro infrastructure in the area.

Based on a complaint filed by a senior metro official, police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act. The offence carries a punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment.

The affected stretch is part of Pune Metro's key underground corridor connecting Shivajinagar and Swargate, which is an important link in the city's expanding metro network. Authorities have previously issued advisories restricting excavation and borewell work near metro alignments without prior permission, but such norms were not followed in this case.

Similar incidents in other cities have highlighted risks associated with unregulated drilling and construction activities near underground infrastructure. In recent years, metro authorities across major urban centres have increased monitoring and issued stricter guidelines to prevent such damage, especially in dense localities with ongoing redevelopment and infrastructure work.