Police have registered a case after an unauthorised structure was discovered near the Naneghat Caves in Pune district’s Junnar taluka. The complaint was filed by officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.
The Naneghat Caves, located in the Western Ghats, date to the 1st century BCE and are linked to the Satavahana dynasty. The site is known for its early Brahmi inscriptions and a historic mountain pass that once connected the Konkan coast with the Deccan plateau. As a protected monument, construction within 200 metres of its boundary is strictly prohibited, with boundary markers and warning boards in place.
During a routine patrol, an ASI team spotted a brick structure on the eastern side of the caves. When questioned, a man at the site allegedly admitted to building it but could not provide official permission. He was identified as Mahendra Kondiba Kharat, a resident of Ghatghar in Junnar.
Following directions from senior authorities, ASI official Abhishek Pal filed a First Information Report at the local police station. Inspector Kiran Awachar of Junnar police confirmed that a case has been registered, a notice has been issued to the accused, and an investigation is underway to determine how construction occurred within the protected zone.
