Pune Rural Police Arrest Culprits Behind Akanksha Jewelers Robbery, Recover Stolen Gold and Silver Worth Rs 6.5 Lakh

Mubarak Ansari

Pune, 4th December 2023: The rural police have arrested the culprits involved in the robbery of Akanksha Jewelers’ owner in the ‘Shivapur Wada’ village. The robbers, who looted six and a half lakh rupees, were arrested by the local crime branch (LCB) of the Pune Rural Police. Notably, the police have recovered three kilograms of silver and eight and a half tolas of gold jewelry from the arrested individuals.

The accused are identified as Rohit alias Baba Prakash Sathe (25) of , Sahakarnagar, Nikhil Bhagwant Kamble (28) of Bibwewadi, Nilesh Dashrath Zanje (25) of Vadgaon Zanje (Velhe taluka), and Shafiq Maqsood Hawari (29) of Indiranagar, Kumbharwada, Pune. The mastermind behind the crime, Nilesh Pandurang Dingle of Kalyan (Haveli taluka)), and his accomplice Sahil Patel of Laxmi Nagar are still at large.

Senior Inspector of the Local Crime Branch, Avinash Shilimkar, informed that Yashwant Mahamuni owns Akanksha Jewelers in Shivapur Wada village in Haveli taluka, under Rajgad police station area. On November 5, around 9 pm, as Mahamuni was returning home with gold and silver ornaments from the shop, the accused, riding two motorcycles, pushed him on Kondhanpur road, snatching gold and silver jewelry worth Rs 6 lakh 58 thousand.

Following the registration of the case, an investigation was initiated by the Rajgad police station and the local crime branch. The police obtained CCTV footage of the incident, leading to a thorough technical analysis. After checking various CCTV footages for ten consecutive days, the police determined the route taken by the accused from Shivapur to Rathiwade, then Ambwane towards Kapurhole. Although the names of the accused were not initially revealed, the local crime branch’s investigation team obtained the information through informers, identifying Nilesh Dingle as the mastermind.

Nilesh, along with Rohit, Nikhil, Sahil, were arrested by the police, and all stolen items were seized. Inspector Shilimkar mentioned that the motorcycles used in the crime have also been confiscated.

The operation was conducted by a team led by Superintendent of Police Ankit Goyal, Additional Superintendent of Police Anand Bhoite, Sub Divisional Police Officer Tanaji Barde, Police Inspector of the Local Crime Branch Avinash Shilimkar, and Police Inspector of Rajgad Police Station Annasaheb Gholap.