Pune Police Bust Bike Theft Gang, 20 Bikes Recovered
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 5th March 2026: The Uttamnagar Police have successfully dismantled a gang involved in two-wheeler thefts across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The police have arrested one prime suspect and detained a juvenile, recovering 20 stolen motorcycles valued at approximately ₹15,00,000.
The investigation began following a complaint regarding the theft of a Hero Honda Splendor Pro (MH 12 HM 3126) from a parking lot in Uttamnagar between February 18 and 19, 2026. Under the guidance of DCP Sambhaji Kadam and Senior Police Inspector Raghavendrasingh Kshirsagar, the Uttamnagar detection branch intensified patrolling and nakabandi (roadblocks).
DCP Kadam said, “During a routine check aimed at penalizing triple-riding and modified exhausts, the police intercepted a juvenile riding a motorcycle without a number plate. Upon questioning, the minor provided unsatisfactory answers, leading to his detention. Further interrogation revealed that the bike was stolen, and the juvenile confessed to several other thefts carried out for “fun and luxury” with his accomplices.”
Based on the information provided by the juvenile, the police conducted a technical investigation and arrested 23-year-old Mahesh Hanumansingh Rajput, a resident of Uttamnagar. Rajput was apprehended on February 26 near Sinhagad Srushti, Khadakwasla, while in possession of another stolen bike with a fake number plate.
Key Highlights of the Operation:
Total Recoveries: 20 motorcycles (Total value ₹15 Lakhs).
Cases Solved: 14 cases across various police stations, including Uttamnagar, Kothrud, Warje, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Sinhagad Road, Nanded City, Rajgad (Pune Rural), and Bawdhan.
Modus Operandi: The gang targeted parked vehicles and used forged number plates to avoid detection.
DCP Kadam stated that the gang primarily stole vehicles to fund a lifestyle of leisure and urged citizens to use high-quality locks for their vehicles.
The investigation and operation were conducted under the senior leadership of Additional Commissioner of Police (West Regional Division, Pune) Rajesh Bansode, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Sambhaji Kadam, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sinhagad Division) Ajay Parmar. The field operations were led by Senior Police Inspector Raghavendrasingh Kshirsagar of the Uttamnagar Police Station.
The team included Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Chetan Dhanwade, Mukesh Kurewad, Rajnarayana Deshmukh, Pradip Shelar, Pruthviraj Gaikwad, Chetan Barate, Parmeshwar Padule, Ajay Pawar, Dnyaneshwar Todkar, and Aniruddha Gaikwad.
