Gangster Ghaywal proclaimed absconder, paving way for seizure of his assets by police

Pune City police had moved an application before the court stating that Nilesh could not be traced for investigation into the case. “The court has recently proclaimed Ghaywal an absconder following our application. He has been directed to appear before a court in a stipulated time period. If he fails to appear, we can move to seize Ghaywal’s assets — both movable and immovable,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Sambhaji Kadam.

Close to a dozen offences have been registered against the notorious gang leader since September 17, when members of his aides 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, police have said. Police have issued a Look Out Circular against him and have ensured issuance of a Blue Corner Notice through Interpol.

Ghaywal who is currently believed to be in the UK is believed to have fled the country earlier this year using a fraudulently obtained passport. Probe has revealed 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, a passport was issued to Ghaywal, using which he left India and travelled to the UK on a visitor visa.

The British High Commission, responding to a Pune police’s letter, confirmed in October Ghaywal’s location in the UK and said that they have contacted the concerned authorities in the UK for his detention and deportation. The Pune Police have also written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding Ghaywal’s benami properties and suspected money laundering through multiple firms, bank accounts and properties and have sought Ghaywal’s prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).