5 cops suspended after gangster Gaja Marne served Biryani, during transit between jails

Marne was arrested by Pune City police in connection to the February 19 attack on IT engineer and Murlidhar Mohol supporter Devendra Jog which took place at Shiv Jayanti procession at Bhelke Nagar in Kothrud.

On Wednesday, the Pune City police arrested Balkrushna Laxman Mohite alias Pandya (40), an active member of Marne gang in connection to the incident during the transit. He has been booked under MCOCA and has been remanded to police custody till May 17. (Express)

AN ASSISTANT Police Inspector (API) and four constables from Pune City Police were suspended from active duty by Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar in connection to an incident which incarcerated gangster Gajanan alias Gaja Marne was served biryani during his transit from Pune’s Yerawada Prison to Sangli prison in March earlier this year. The Pune police on Wednesday arrested an active member of the Gaja Marne gang in the case.

Marne was arrested by Pune City police in connection to the February 19 attack on IT engineer and Murlidhar Mohol supporter Devendra Jog which took place at Shiv Jayanti procession at Bhelke Nagar in Kothrud. Police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Marne and his gang in this case. On March 3, Marne was shifted from Yerawada Central Prison to Sangli Prison for security reasons. Recently, a video of Marne being served biryani during the transit to Sangli had surfaced. Probe has also revealed that some aides of Marne had at the time followed the police van in a luxury car.

“We have a very clear policy. Any gangster or criminal who tries to interfere with the law, we will take the strongest possible action against them. MCOCA had already been invoked against the said gangster. He had resorted to some actions. To that end, an officer of API rank and four constabulary staff have been suspended. Those who aid accused under MCOCA are being booked under MCOCA. Those who provided food and those who followed him in a car, have been booked under MCOCA. Those who try to glorify criminals, stringent action awaits them. This should also act as a message to other so-called gangsters and criminals on record.” said Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Wednesday.

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Gangster Gajanan Marne, who has close to 30 serious criminal cases registered against him, had hit headlines in February 2021 when a rally comprising dozens of luxury cars was taken out in his support on the Mumbai Expressway after he was released from Taloja prison. At the time, Marne was released from prison after the court had acquitted him and 13 aides over lack of evidence in the murder of Santosh Hiraman Gawade alias Pappu, a rival gang member. The number of arrests made by Pune police in connection to the controversial highway rally had crossed 100 at the time that included many of his gang members and supporters. Close to 30 high end cars that were part of the rally were also seized by Pune police. As the Maharashtra Police were criticised over the rally, multiple cases were slapped against Gajanan and his aides in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Raigad and Navi Mumbai jurisdiction. One offence was also registered against them for spreading social media posts glorifying the gangster, which were in circulation since his release from Taloja prison.

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