Pune: Elderly Women Passengers Robbed at Knifepoint in Wakad, 13 Tolas of Gold Recovered
Wakad, 20th September 2025: Crime Branch Unit 4 of Pimpri Chinchwad police has arrested three men for robbing elderly women passengers at knifepoint near Bhujbal Chowk on the Mumbai-Bangalore highway in Wakad. Police recovered approximately 13 tolas of gold ornaments from the accused. The arrested individuals have been identified as Abasaheb Ankush Madane, Kailas Pandurang Tompe, and Vaibhav Janardan Suryatal.
According to police, two elderly women had boarded a private car near Bhujbal Chowk to travel to Khopoli, unaware that the vehicle belonged to the accused. During the journey, the men noticed the women were wearing gold ornaments and diverted the car toward Katraj. The victims were then taken to the Katraj tunnel, where the accused threatened them with knives and forcibly stole the gold.
The women immediately lodged a complaint, prompting Crime Branch Unit 4, under Police Inspector Arvind Pawar, to begin an investigation. Officers traced the vehicle by reviewing CCTV footage from various locations, which ultimately led them to the suspects.
The recovered gold and arrests were made under the supervision of Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar and Assistant Police Commissioner Vishal Hire.
