In a significant ruling, a special court in Pune has firmly rejected an appeal by alleged gangster Gajanan Marne, popularly known as Gaja Marne, to temporarily relax his bail conditions and allow him entry into Pune city limits to campaign for his wife during the ongoing Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections. Special Judge SS Kanthale delivered the verdict on Wednesday, stating that the grounds presented by the accused did not involve a matter of life and death.
Court Cites Serious Charges and Public Order Concerns
Judge Kanthale emphasized that Marne is facing serious charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and has a history of 28 registered offences. The judge noted that the prosecution's apprehensions about potential deterioration of law and order were not unfounded. The court specifically referred to the fact that Marne's wife, a former corporator now contesting on an NCP ticket from Kothrud-Bavdhan, had previously won the seat and is capable of campaigning independently. Interestingly, the judge pointed out that Marne's wife had not herself sought his presence for her campaign.
Police Search and Voter Pressure Allegations
Simultaneously, the Pune city crime branch has launched a search operation for Marne in the Mulshi taluka area. This action follows complaints that he has been allegedly pressuring people to vote for his wife, despite the court-imposed ban. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed the search, stating that teams are looking to warn Marne against such activities. Marne was arrested along with nine others in connection with an attack on a BJP software engineer during Shiv Jayanti celebrations at Bhelke Chowk in Kothrud on February 19, 2025.
Background of the Bail Condition and Legal Arguments
Marne was granted bail by then special judge SR Salunkhe on November 28, 2025, with the strict condition that he must not enter PMC limits until the Bombay High Court decides on his petition to quash the FIR. Special public prosecutor Pramod Bombatkar strongly opposed the relaxation plea, arguing that elections are a sensitive period and allowing Marne into the city would add an unnecessary burden on police forces already managing law and order. The prosecutor warned of the high likelihood of the accused committing similar offences under the guise of electioneering.
Dismissing Marne's claim that the charges against him are false, Judge Kanthale stated that the bail conditions were neither unreasonable nor harsh. The court offered a singular concession: Marne may enter the city strictly for the purpose of casting his own vote on election day, after which he must immediately leave the PMC jurisdiction. The judge concluded that the heavens would not fall if the accused refrained from entering Pune during the civic election period, upholding the original bail restrictions in the interest of public safety.
