Pune Rural Police Nab Interstate Gang Leader Wanted for Kidnapping and Sexual Exploitation

Pune, 12th September 2025: In a significant breakthrough, Pune Rural Police have arrested an interstate gang leader accused of multiple crimes, including kidnapping, assault, and sexual exploitation, in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka.

The accused, Betab alias Shivam alias Shubham Anand Pawar (50), a resident of Hanuman Tekdi, Krantinagar, Kusgaon (Maval, Pune district), was tracked down to Kalaburagi, Karnataka, and arrested with the assistance of Malakhed Police Station.

The case dates back to September 2023, when Lonavala subdivision police raided the Krantinagar–Hanuman Tekdi area and arrested two members of Pawar’s gang. A woman and two minors—a girl and a boy—were rescued during the operation. They reported being chained, starved, beaten, forced into labor, and subjected to sexual exploitation.

Pawar, identified as the gang’s leader, had managed to escape and had been on the run for nearly two years. He was wanted under several IPC sections, along with the POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.

Criminal Record Across States
Police said Pawar is a history-sheeter with:
4 cases in Pune Rural (Maharashtra)
2 cases in Gujarat
1 case in Karnataka

He had earlier been lodged in Sabarmati Jail but absconded after being released on temporary bail, resuming his criminal activities.

The Pune Rural Local Crime Branch (LCB), with Lonavala City and Rural Police, traced Pawar’s movements and dispatched a special team to Kalaburagi. Considering his violent history, the operation was conducted with caution. He was successfully brought back to Pune and produced before court, which has granted five days of police custody.

The operation was executed under the guidance of SP Sandeep Singh Gill (Pune Rural), Addl. SP Ramesh Chopde, and SDPO Gajanan Tompe (Lonavala Division). Field operations were led by PI Avinash Shilimkar (LCB), PI Rajesh Ramaghare (Lonavala City), and PI Dinesh Tayde (Lonavala Rural), along with their teams.

Police have described Pawar’s arrest as a major blow to organised crime networks, bringing relief to citizens in all three affected states.