The Pune Rural Police arrested an inter-state burglar involved in a series of house break-ins in Pune City, rural areas of Pune, and other states including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka, officials said on Monday. The police have recovered stolen valuables including 8.5 tolas of gold ornaments, 2 kilograms of silver utensils, cash worth ₹16.58 lakh and a Hyundai Elantra car used in the crime.
According to the police, the accused has been identified as Lakhan Ashok Kulkarni, alias Sachin Raju Mane, a resident of Mangalwedha, Solapur. The arrest was made following an investigation into burglaries reported in Sripatinagar, Bhor, on January 13. Four locked houses in the central Bhor area were targeted during the early hours of the morning. The victim, Madhav Damodhar Purohit (64), filed a case at Bhor Police Station.
Taking into account the seriousness of the case, Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh directed the Local Crime Branch (LCB) to act swiftly. The police team analysed CCTV footage from the vicinity and identified suspect Kulkarni, who had arrived in the area hours before the crime. After a tip-off from confidential sources, the police apprehended him. He is a known criminal with over 50 burglary cases across Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra, and had previously served a seven-year sentence for theft in Karnataka.
Speaking to the media, Pankaj Deshmukh said, "Kulkarni's criminal record spans multiple states, making him one of the most wanted burglars in the region. His dual identity using the alias Sachin Raju Mane in criminal circles added to the challenge of tracking him down. Kulkarni is a habitual offender with more than 50 cases registered against him in the city and other states. In the recent robbery case, he was arrested in Karad but was out on bail."
"On January 24, police tracked him on the Pune-Satara route near Sasewadi, leading to his arrest. During interrogation, Kulkarni confessed to the crimes, revealing he had used a Hyundai Elantra to carry out the burglaries. The team recovered the stolen valuables and cash. Further investigation is underway," he added.
