Pune, India – July 19, 2025 – Bollywood actress and former Miss India Sangeeta Bijlani was left in shock after discovering a burglary at her farmhouse in Tikona village near Pawna Dam, Maval Taluka, Pune district, on July 18, 2025. The incident came to light when the actress visited the premises after an absence of several months, prompted by her father’s health issues.
According to a complaint filed with the Pune Rural Police, unidentified intruders forcibly entered the farmhouse, causing significant damage and stealing valuables. The main gate and window grills were found broken, and the interior was heavily vandalized. Among the stolen items were a television set valued at approximately INR 7,000 and INR 50,000 in cash, with the total estimated loss amounting to INR 57,000. Household items, including beds, a refrigerator, and CCTV cameras, were either stolen or destroyed, indicating deliberate vandalism.
Bijlani, in her statement to Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill, expressed her dismay: “I visited the farmhouse with two of my househelps and was shocked to see the main gate broken. Inside, the window grills were damaged, one television set was missing, and another was broken.” The actress noted that she had been unable to visit the property for months due to personal commitments.
Pune Rural Police have launched an investigation, with a team led by Senior Inspector Dinesh Tayde dispatched to assess the site. Authorities are examining available CCTV footage and employing forensic methods to identify the culprits. Preliminary evidence suggests the break-in occurred sometime between March 7 and July 18, 2025, while the farmhouse was unoccupied, taking advantage of its remote location. A First Information Report is yet to be registered, pending a full evaluation of the damage and losses.
The complaint was formally lodged by Mohammad Mujib Khan, a 54-year-old personal assistant to Bijlani’s former husband, ex-Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin. Police sources indicate that the burglars gained entry by cutting through the wire mesh of the rear compound wall, climbing to the first-floor gallery, and forcing open a window grill.
Sangeeta Bijlani, a prominent figure in Bollywood during the late 1980s and early 1990s, is known for her roles in films such as Tridev and Jurm. The 65-year-old former model, who won the Femina Miss India Universe title in 1980, recently made headlines for her star-studded 65th birthday celebration, attended by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, her former partner.
As the investigation continues, the incident has raised concerns about property security in the scenic but secluded areas around Lonavala and Pawna Dam, popular for vacation homes among India’s elite. Police have assured a thorough probe and urged residents to enhance security measures for unoccupied properties.
