2 held for Rs 10.5 lakh mall heist

Two persons were on Friday arrested for the recent theft of Rs 10.5 lakh at Big Bazaar on Pune-Satara road.

Two persons were on Friday arrested for the recent theft of Rs 10.5 lakh at Big Bazaar on Pune-Satara road. The crime branch of Pune police arrested Rajesh Kisan Saini (19) of Mhada Colony,Yerawada and Dnyananda Yamanappa Walekar (21) of Viman Nagar,working on clues from CCTV footage. Additional commissioner of police (crime) A D Shinde said the duo are employed at a local call centre. They conducted a recce of the mall in Bibvewadi to find where the cash is kept,police said.

On June 19,they went to the mall. After the mall closed Walekar moved out but Saini hid himself inside. Saini opened the cash box using keys that,police said,were kept alongside the cash box. He stole Rs 10,53,164 and using a bedsheet,climbed down the wall,police said.

The theft came to light when the mall opened at 9 am on June 20. Shahaji Gavare,manager of the mall,lodged a complaint at Sahkarnagar police station. During investigation,police got images of the suspects from a CCTV camera in the mall. During investigation,havaldar Sikandar Jamadar of the crime branch got information about the suspects from his sources.

A police team led by inspector Sunil Pawar arrested the duo around 3 pm on Friday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Rajeshkumar Bansode,said,”Rs 6.9 lakh and a costly mobile phone purchased using the stolen money were recovered from the suspects.”

Police said that Saini is a first-year BA student of a reputed college in the city. He had scored 70 per cent marks in the recent HSC exams. Walekar is SSC pass. Both left home after dispute with their parents,who are labourers.

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