Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The Pune city police said on Wednesday they have received a confirmation from the British High Commission about fugitive gangster Nilesh Ghaywal’s presence in the UK and that authorities there have been contacted to start the process for his detention and deportation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Sambhaji Kadam said, “We had written to the British High Commission in India about fugitive criminal Nilesh Ghaywal. We had sought his location, details of his visa and that he be detained and deported to India. We had communication that his passport has been revoked. We have received an email response from the British High Commission. They have said that the said criminal is currently in the UK and that his visa is a visitor visa. They have said that communication has been initiated with the concerned authority in the UK government for his detention and deportation.”
“Now, some legal procedures are required for his deportation to India, which will be undertaken,” said the DCP adding that a case was registered on Wednesday at the Warje Malwadi police station against Ghaywal’s aide Amol Lakhe on the charges of fraudulently obtaining documents of a man in Dharashiv district to procure a SIM card.
As many as 10 offences have been registered against Ghaywal since September 17, when members of his gang allegedly opened fire at a man and attacked a student with sharp weapons in the Kothrud area, following a road rage incident. Taking into consideration the past cases against him, the number of offences against him has now gone past 25, said police. Police have also issued a Look Out Circular against him and have ensured issuance of a Blue Corner Notice through Interpol.
Meanwhile, Ghaywal’s illegally obtained passport has also been revoked. According to police investigation, Ghaywal applied for a tatkal passport at the regional passport office in Pune in 2019, mentioning that he was a resident of ‘Gauri Ghumat, Anandi Bazar, Maliwada Road, Ahmednagar (now renamed Ahilyanagar)’ and changing the spelling of his name to Gaiwal. Failing to locate him at this address, the Ahilyanagar police entered a “not available” remark on his application, which was forwarded to the passport office in Pune on January 16, 2020. In spite of this, Ghaywal was issued a passport, which he used to flee India.
Ghaywal, who used to be a henchman for notorious gangster Gaja Marne in the early 2000s, is a dreaded criminal on police record, who leads a gang allegedly involved in serious offences such as murder, attempt to murder and extortions. He has also faced preventive detention in prison under Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug Offenders and Dangerous Persons Act, 1981, and prosecution under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Police records show that Marne and Ghaywal used to operate together from 2000 till 2003. The two separated later and multiple clashes between the two outfits have been reported since then, including murders and attempts on lives of rival gang members.
