Hindu man attacked by Muslim man over parking dispute in Pune
Pune, Maharashtra, India 
18 March, 2025
Case Summary
In Pune, Maharashtra, a fight broke out between a Hindu man, Ganesh Subhash Rakhpasare, and a Muslim man, Ashraf Ashfak Shaikh, over a minor parking dispute. The altercation escalated when Shaikh attacked Ganesh with a sharp weapon. According to media reports, 32-year-old Ganesh Subhash Rakhpasare, a resident of Ashraf Nagar, Kondhwa Budruk, was looking for a parking space. He parked his car on a public road in front of Sana Hospital near the Gausiya Hotel in Kausar Baug, Kondhwa. The hospital staff objected to his parking there, leading to an argument. During the dispute, 30-year-old Shaikh, a resident of Bhagyalakshmi Tower, Mithanagar, Kondhwa, intervened and accused Rakhpasare of staring at him. This led to a verbal altercation, which quickly turned violent when Shaikh attacked Ganesh with a sharp weapon. Ganesh called his brothers for help, who then attacked Shaikh in retaliation. Soon, more people from Shaikh’s side got involved, further escalating the situation. Both Rakhpasare and Shaikh sustained serious injuries and were admitted to Sassoon General Hospital for treatment. Senior Police Inspector Vinay Patnakar of Kondhwa Police Station told the Free Press Journal, “Ganesh Rakhpasare had parked his car on the public road in front of Sana Hospital near Gausiya Hotel in Kausar Baug, Kondhwa. The hotel staff did not allow him to park his car in front of the hotel. While an argument was taking place between the hotel staff and Rakhpasare, Shaikh approached and asked Rakhpasare, ‘Why are you staring at me?’” The police arrived at the scene and detained the accused. Three people, including Ganesh and Shaikh, were arrested in connection with this incident. Both men had a criminal history, with Shaikh previously facing charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act). The police launched an investigation and assured that any additional individuals involved in the violence would also be apprehended.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case raises doubts about whether the Hindu victim, Ganesh Rakhpasare, was attacked by the Muslim accused, Ashraf Shaikh, and his associates due to religious reasons. The immediate trigger for the altercation was a parking dispute, which escalated when Shaikh accused Rakhpasare of “staring at him.” The confrontation turned violent, resulting in both sides sustaining serious injuries. While the initial conflict was unrelated to religion, the scale of retaliation and the involvement of a group from Shaikh’s side raise the possibility of communal undertones. There have been several instances where violence against Hindus has started over non-religious issues but subsequently escalated into communal attacks. However, it is also plausible that this incident was not religiously motivated and was instead an outcome of personal hostility and criminal tendencies, given that both individuals had prior records. As there is no conclusive evidence indicating a religious motive in this case, nor have the victims made such claims, it has been categorised as ‘Undecided’ in the database. If further information emerges suggesting religious animosity as a factor, the case will be reclassified under the hate crime database.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 1
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 1
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
