Pimpri-Chinchwad: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have arrested a serial chain snatcher who had 15 cases registered against him in Pune and Ahilyanagar districts, officials said on Saturday. They also arrested four of his accomplices. One of his robbery attempts resulted in the death of a woman. While the accused was trying to snatch her chain, she fell on the road, sustaining fatal injuries.
Crime Branch Unit 3 arrested Akshay Raju Sherawat (age 26, resident of Hingangaon), Rushi Buddhiman Nanawat (age 23, resident of Ashtapur Phata), Arman Pralhad Nanawat (age 26, resident of Vadhu Khurd) and Sonu Firoz Guddawat (age 20, resident of Sanaswadi).
'Visited every location where chain-snatching incidents were reported'
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr Shivaji Pawar, speaking to the media in a press conference, said that when Crime Branch Unit 3 was investigating to identify and detain chain snatchers, they visited every location where chain-snatching incidents were reported, checked CCTV footage and conducted technical analysis. The arrested accused had been deceiving the police for a whole month until Unit 3 got a breakthrough and arrested Sherawat on 6th August. Then, on 8th August, following information given by Sherawat, they arrested Rushi Nanawat from Talegaon Dabhade and Arman Nanawat and Sonu Guddawat from Mahalunge Ingale.
Officials stated that after the arrests, the investigation revealed that on 20th May, Sherawat and Rushi Nanawat had attempted to snatch a chain from a woman’s neck, which resulted in her falling on the road and dying due to head injuries. Along with that, the buyer who used to purchase the stolen jewellery from the accused was also arrested from the Thane area on 6th August. He has been identified as Khushal Singh Jodh Singh Rao (age 43, resident of Ambarnath).
Their arrests helped solve 12 chain-snatching cases, one of culpable homicide, one of dacoity and one of vehicle theft. Police also seized 10.3 tolas of gold and two motorcycles used in the crimes, all worth Rs 12.31 lakh.
The solved cases include two registered at Chikhali, two at MIDC Bhosari, two at Nigdi, two at Supa and one each at Topkhana, Shirur, Shikrapur, Dighi, Mahalunge MIDC, Chakan and Dapodi Police Stations. Khushal Singh also has a case registered against him at Ale Phata Police Station for buying stolen goods from thieves.
'Proposal has been made to invoke MCOCA'
DCP Pawar added, "A proposal has been made to invoke MCOCA against all these accused. The investigation officer will examine all prior crimes, and if justified, we will invoke MCOCA. The woman fell from a two-wheeler and died while the accused attempted to snatch a chain from her neck. This was an undetected crime, which Unit 3 solved. The custody of the two accused involved has been handed over to the Supa Police Station."
This action was conducted under the guidance of Pimpri-Chinchwad Commissioner of Police Vinoy Kumar Choubey, Joint Commissioner of Police Dr Shashikant Mahavarkar, Additional Commissioner of Police Sarang Awhad, DCP Dr. Pawar and Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr. Vishal Hire.
The Unit 3 team, led by Senior Police Inspector Jitendra Kadam, included Police Sub-Inspector Sunil Jawale, Police Constables Rajaram Lonkar, Yogesh Adhari, Sandeep Sonawane, Manoj Sabale, Sachin More, Rushikesh Bhosure, Ram Mergal, Sagar Jainak, Yogeshwar Kolekar, Trinayan Balsaraf, Samir Kale, Sundar Thorat, Sudhir Dangat, Shekhar Kharade and Pradeep Rale.
