The incident took place in Nanapeth area on Thursday evening after a Samarth traffic branch policeman along with contract staff lifted the motorcycle using a pulley belt attached to a towing van, said Rahul Shrirame, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

After the video of the incident went viral, the Pune city police traffic branch went on defensive mode.

"The motorcycle had almost been lifted when the rider came and climbed onto it to stop the towing and refused to get down despite repeated requests from police. After he refused to relent, the motorcycle was placed on the van carriage along with the rider," Shrirame said.

When asked how he can jump so far that the man can be seen in the video that he is being lifted with the bike, the DCP replied, “I have spoken to our workers and traffic policemen. We even spoke to the man, he isn’t present here. He is afraid and doesn’t have any complaints. He had jumped on the bike when it was already lifted, and this was an emotionally motivated action.”

The officer did not reply when asked why the bike was lifted so high when the man was sitting on it.

The man later apologized and paid a fine, while action was taken against the contract staff as well as the traffic cop who was part of the team, the latter being shifted to the control room, the DCP informed.