Pune Police Recover One Kg Gold, Arrest 18-Year-Old Worker in Major Theft Case
Pune, 13th November 2025: Faraskhana Police have solved a major gold theft case involving one kilogram of gold worth ₹1.27 crore, arresting an 18-year-old worker after an intensive multi-state pursuit spanning Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
DCP( Zone 1) Krushikesh Rawale told Punekar News that there is 100% recovery in the case.
The theft took place at Precious Refinery in Budhwar Peth, where employee Prathamesh Ganesh Mandale allegedly stole 10 gold biscuits of 100 grams each from the shop’s locker. A case has been registered under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 at the Faraskhana Police Station.
Accused Tracked Across Six Cities
Following the gravity of the case, DCP Rawale directed the formation of a special investigation team led by PSI Arvind Shinde. The accused had switched off his mobile phone and kept changing his location to evade arrest.
The police team tracked his movements through Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Vijayapura (Karnataka), and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) before finally apprehending him from Jath in Sangli district after an extensive chase.
Gold Recovered; Artisan Also Arrested
During interrogation, Mandale confessed to hiding the stolen gold at different locations and selling a portion of it to a gold artisan in Kolhapur.
Police subsequently arrested the artisan, identified as Shakeel Bashir Momin (45), a resident of Line Bazaar, Kolhapur, and recovered the entire one kilogram of gold.
Senior Officers Commend Police Efforts
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar, Joint CP Ranjankumar Sharma, Additional CP (West Region) Rajesh Bansode, DCP Rawale, and ACP Anuja Deshmane.
The investigation team included Senior PI Uttam Namawade, PSI Arvind Shinde, and officers from the Faraskhana Police Station.
