Pune Police Crack Down on Inter-State Burglary Ring, Arrest Kingpin
The Pune Rural police have achieved a significant breakthrough in a high-value burglary case by apprehending the alleged kingpin of an inter-state criminal gang. The arrest comes in connection with a daring theft at a grocery store owner's residence in Rajgurunagar, Khed, where cash and gold jewellery collectively valued at approximately Rs68 lakh were stolen on January 3.
Details of the Burglary and Investigation
In the early hours of January 3, unidentified individuals forcibly entered the home of a 59-year-old grocer while the family was away visiting Akkalkot in Solapur district. The burglars made off with Rs9.5 lakh in cash along with substantial gold jewellery, bringing the total estimated loss to Rs68 lakh.
Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill detailed the investigative efforts that led to the arrest. "Our teams meticulously examined CCTV footage from the vicinity, which revealed a white car near the crime scene," stated Gill. "We then analyzed footage along a 120-kilometer stretch of the Pune-Nashik highway, successfully obtaining clear photographs of the suspects."
Arrest and Recovery of Stolen Property
The investigation pointed toward suspects hailing from Uttar Pradesh. Police intelligence indicated that the gang members would travel by car from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra, commit crimes, and swiftly return to their home state.
The primary accused, identified as Rizwan Shaikh (42), originally from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh but currently residing in New Delhi, was intercepted by police on the Pune-Nashik highway. Shaikh was reportedly en route to Mumbai from Gujarat when he was apprehended.
From Shaikh, authorities recovered gold and silver jewellery along with a car, with the total value of the seized items estimated at Rs48 lakh. "We intercepted him recently and recovered these items," confirmed SP Gill.
Ongoing Manhunt and Criminal History
While Shaikh is now in custody, the search for his accomplices continues. "Two teams from the local crime branch are actively working to trace the remaining accused," Gill added.
The police revealed that Shaikh has a substantial criminal record, with cases registered against him in multiple jurisdictions including Pune, Kolhapur, Delhi, and Gujarat. "Our investigations into his activities and the broader network are ongoing," the officer emphasized.
Initial attempts to apprehend Shaikh had been challenging. "Our teams pursued leads to Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, but Shaikh managed to evade capture at that time," explained the SP, highlighting the determined effort that ultimately led to his arrest on the highway.
This case underscores the challenges of inter-state criminal operations and the coordinated police work required to dismantle such networks operating across regional boundaries.
