Pune: Society Office-Bearers Booked for Social Boycott and Harassment of IT Director’s Family in Aundh

Pune : Thirteen office-bearers of a residential society in Aundh have been booked under the Maharashtra Protection of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act for allegedly ostracising and harassing the family of an IT director. The family, residing at Supriya Towers on Nagras Road, Aundh, had demanded a financial account of the society, leading to their systematic boycott and mistreatment since 2015.

The complaint, lodged by a 44-year-old resident and director of an IT company, alleged that after moving into his flat in Supriya Towers, he requested the society’s financial records from office-bearer Rupesh Junavane. When the request was ignored, the plaintiff and his family were subjected to ongoing harassment by several members of the society, resulting in social exclusion and mental harassment.

According to the complaint, the accused—identified as Rupesh Junavane (47), Dattatray Salunkhe (50), Ashwini Pandit (60), Ashwin Lokre (50), Sunil Pawar (52), Jagannath Burli (50), Aniruddh Kale (50), Sumir Mehta (47), Sanjay Gore (45), Shilpa Rupesh Junavane (45), Ashok Kharat (50), and Vaijnath Sant—engaged in actions intended to humiliate and isolate the plaintiff’s family.

The plaintiff reported that his daughter was cruelly mocked, and no children in the society would play with her. In one instance, Vaijnath Sant allegedly broke a coconut on a burning lamp as a symbolic act, with other members mocking the family during the society’s events.

The harassment extended further when the plaintiff’s wife faced mental distress due to society’s treatment, with Shilpa Junavane allegedly banging on the door of their flat to intimidate the family. The family was excluded from society events, and there was speculation that the accused were attempting to seize control of the plaintiff’s flat.

The ongoing mistreatment led to a legal intervention, and following a court order, the Chaturshringi police registered a case against the accused under the provisions of the Social Boycott Prevention Act. Assistant Police Inspector Karande is currently investigating the case.

The plaintiff also alleged financial embezzlement by the office-bearers, which is believed to be one of the primary reasons behind the targeted harassment of his family.