Pune: Thief Posing as Delivery Boy Nabbed; Rs 80 Lakh Worth of Gold, Silver, and Arms Recovered

Swargate, 17th January 2025: The Swargate police have arrested a thief who carried out multiple burglaries in Pune while posing as a delivery boy. Two accomplices, including a jeweler and a known criminal, have also been apprehended. Valuables worth ₹80 lakh, including 860 grams of gold, 3.5 kilograms of silver, 150 diamonds, a two-wheeler, two pistols, and five cartridges, have been seized.

The main suspect, Ganesh Maruti Kathewade (37), a resident of Mukhed in Nanded, was arrested along with Suresh Baban Pawar (35), a resident of Dhankawadi, Pune, and jeweler Bhim Singh alias Ajay Karansingh Rajput (39), from Nathwala.

The investigation began after a burglary was reported in Swargate on December 19, 2024. Police reviewed footage from approximately 1,700 CCTV cameras, which helped identify Kathewade from a blurry image. Acting on a tip-off, the police tracked him down and arrested him in the Undri area of Kondhwa.

During interrogation, Kathewade admitted to committing 14 burglaries across the city, targeting closed flats in residential societies while pretending to be a delivery agent. He also confessed to seven thefts from passengers at the Swargate State Transport (ST) bus stand.

Further investigation revealed that Kathewade handed over the stolen jewelry to Suresh Pawar, a notorious criminal with a history of serious offenses, including murder and attempted murder. Pawar, who had previously been charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) and was out on bail, sold the stolen items through jeweler Bhim Singh Rajput.

Pawar, who also served as the deputy sarpanch of Ambadvet village in Mulshi taluka, was found in possession of two pistols and five cartridges at the time of his arrest.

The operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Yuvraj Nandre of the Swargate Police Station, with a dedicated team comprising Assistant Inspector Rahul Kolambikar, Sub-Inspector Ravindra Kaspate, and officers Sanjay Bhapkar, Shridhar Patil, Kundan Shinde, Nana Bhandurge, Sudhir Ingle, Sachin Tanpure, Shankar Sampatte, Sagar Kekan, Satish Kumbhar, Rahul Tambe, Sharad Gore, Vikramal Sawant, and Dinesh Parihar.