7 convicted under MCOCA for 2016 co-operative bank robbery in Pune

According to police, the robbers tied them with a rope by threatening them at knife point. Using a gas cutter, the robbers cut the window grills to enter the bank and loot cash kept in the safe. After the robbers left, the guards managed to free themselves and inform the police and bank officials.

The bank’s manager, Nikhil Manik, lodged the first information report (FIR) in this case at the Yavat police station of the Pune rural police. Initially, the FIR was lodged against unidentified robbers under sections 395, 412, 413, 414 of the Indian Penal Code.

Based on clues obtained during the investigation, the police identified the role of ten persons in the bank robbery. Police arrested seven persons including Sachin Appa alias Bhausaheb Ithape alias Shivaji Patil (28), Ramdas alias Zingya alias Pappu Yashwant Dhage (27), Satish Appa Ithape alias Satish Patil (30), Mangala Appa Ithape, all from Ahmednagar district, Prithviraj Dattatraya Mane (27), Maruti Shivaji Sarade of Madha, Solapur district and Priyanka Dnyaneshwar Lokare alias Deshmukh, of Chalisgaon, Dhule.

Police invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in this case. A chargesheet was also filed against the accused persons before a special court for MCOCA cases in Pune. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajendra More conducted the investigation.

Meanwhile, an accused Tushar Shivaji Sarade, who was on the run after the robbery, was arrested by the police on July 6, 2022. A supplementary chargesheet was filed against him. Two accused in this case, identified as Dnyaneshwar Jagannath Lokare and Bablu Arvind Salve, are still absconding, police said.

During the trial, additional public prosecutor Chandrakiran Salvi examined 14 witnesses in this case. Salvi said, “A police probe revealed that the main accused Sachin Ithape formed a criminal gang and committed robberies in Pune, Ahmednagar and Satara districts. Sachin and his gang members used the robbery money from purchasing land, four wheelers, JCB machines. Some gang members also opened bank accounts in different banks with fake names using forged Aadhaar card documents.”

During investigation, police had recovered some masks, money, debit cards, cheque books of different bank accounts, documents pertaining to property purchased and developed using the money that had been robbed, from the accused persons. Evidence was produced to prove that the accused were involved in the PDDC bank robbery at Rahu. Some accused have previous criminal records ,” said Salvi.

Special judge P P Jadhav convicted seven accused persons. Sachin Ithape, Ramdas Dhage, Prithviraj Mane and Maruti Sarde were found guilty under IPC and MCOCA sections. All four were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life and fined Rs 10 lakhs each.

The court also found Satish Patil, Mangal Ithape and Priyanka guilty under IPC and MCOCA sections. They were sentenced to undergo seven years RI and a fine Rs 10 lakh each.

The court ordered that properties of the accused persons that they had acquired using the stolen money should be attached, forfeited and credited to the state. Police sub inspector Vidyadhar Nikhil assisted the prosecution.