Pune woman slaps ‘drunk’ man over 20 times for touching her inappropriately

A dramatic incident aboard a Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus unfolded on Tuesday afternoon when a woman confronted a fellow passenger for allegedly touching her inappropriately. The altercation, which occurred during her commute from Swargate to Shivajinagar, stopped the bus near Shaniwarwada and has since ignited conversations on social media and beyond.

The bus, plying the Katraj to Narveer Tanajiwadi route, was bustling with passengers when the woman raised her voice, accusing the man seated behind her of repeated inappropriate behaviour. In an assertive move, she grabbed the man by his collar and began slapping him while demanding accountability.

The commotion caught the attention of the bus conductor, who joined her in reprimanding the man. Witnesses recounted that the woman questioned the conductor, saying, "Why are you not reacting to the man's misbehaviour, considering that several young girls are on the bus?"



As the situation escalated, the bus driver steered the vehicle to the Kasba Peth police chowky. The accused, reportedly intoxicated at the time, was seen pleading for forgiveness. However, the woman stood her ground, continuing to confront him.

As told to TOI, Senior Inspector Prashant Bhasme of the Faraskhana police station provided further details: "The woman boarded the bus at Swargate to go to Shivajinagar. The man was seated behind her. She told us that the man touched her inappropriately more than once, prompting her reaction. After she raised her voice and slapped the man, the bus driver took the vehicle to the Kasba Peth chowky."

At the station, the matter took a turn when the woman chose not to lodge a formal complaint. Inspector Bhasme explained, "We verified the man's medical documents and prescriptions, which he was carrying in a bag, to establish that he is suffering from a heart ailment."

A video capturing the incident surfaced on social media on Thursday, showing the woman delivering over 26 slaps to the accused while firmly holding his collar. In the clip, the man is seen joining his hands in a gesture of apology, his face marked by visible regret.


The footage sparked significant online reactions, with many netizens applauding the woman’s bravery. However, the incident also raised questions about public safety and the prevalence of harassment on public transport.

The woman, identified as Priya Lashkare, a sports teacher from Shirdi, was travelling with her husband and child when the event occurred. Despite being accompanied by family, she chose to directly confront the accused and ensured the matter was addressed publicly.

Although the incident was resolved without legal action, it drew attention to the systemic issues surrounding public transport safety. Lashkare’s decision not to pursue a formal complaint came after the accused's wife pleaded with her and apologised on his behalf.

Inspector Bhasme confirmed, "The man begged for pardon, and the woman decided not to file a police complaint."