Daulatsingh Tak, a chivalrous dacoit who jumped from moving train, gunned down by security guard during bank heist

However, when the police were hunting for him, Pune’s “most wanted” gangster met with an unexpected end. While attempting a bank robbery at Dahanu in December 2004, Daultansingh, 28, was gunned down by security guard Vijay Khol, an ex-serviceman.

The police remember Daulatsingh as a fearless criminal who respected women.

Retired sub-inspector Gunga Jagtap said Daulatsingh, a resident of Hadapsar, belonged to the Shikalkari community. His father Tensingh was into making utensils like tawa, jhara and knives, said Jagtap, known for his deep-rooted network among the Shikalkari community.

“Daulatsingh’s wife and children still stay in Pune. A school dropout, he became a criminal after coming in contact with some history-sheeters from his community. Soon, he emerged as a notorious gang leader who masterminded several vehicle thefts, house break-ins, robberies and bank dacoities in Pune, Ahmednagar, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Dhule, Surat and Ahmedabad. He was an intelligent criminal who improved himself after every crime,” said Jagtap.

Daulatsingh’s arrest in February 2004 was considered to be a major success by the Pune city police. It led to the detection of multiple offences. The stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was invoked against his gang.

In April 2004, a police team took him to Thane by a train for his appearance in court in connection with a jewellery shop heist case lodged at the Mira Road police station.

When the train halted at Khandala railway station around 11 am, Daulatsingh told the police that he wanted to urinate. They escorted the handcuffed Daulatsingh to the toilet. As soon as the train started moving, he exited the toilet, pushed the policemen away and jumped. Two policemen also jumped out of the train chasing him, but he escaped successfully.

The police said he went on to reorganise his gang and began bank dacoities.

On December 3, 2004, Daulatsingh, along with his gang members, came to the Dena Bank at Dahanu in Palghar district (then in Thane) in a four-wheeler. “They wanted to loot the bank. Daulatsingh pointed a gun at the bank’s security guard. But the security guard was an ex-Army personnel who not only faced the situation bravely but also opened fire at the dreaded Daulatsingh from his rifle,” said Rajendra Joshi, who retired as an ACP.

“Even after being hit by the bullet, Daulatsingh boarded the car along with his accomplices and escaped from the spot. He drove the car himself for a few kilometres. After reaching a jungle area, he asked his accomplices to leave and abandoned the car at the spot before dying,” said Joshi.

The Thane police recovered Daulatsingh’s body and took it for postmortem. The police said he had changed his looks by removing his beard and turban. Retired ACP Ram Jadhav, who was then posted in Thane as an assistant inspector, was among the personnel who first identified Daulatsingh.

ACP Joshi said Daulatsingh was a daredevil criminal. “I remember once he committed three dacoities in different parts of Pune in one night. He and his gang first targeted the house of a private company’s CEO in Yerwada. While we reached this spot for investigation, they attacked a bungalow in Market Yard. By the time we came here, they looted another spot in Sangvi,” said Joshi.

“He had a strong physique. After his arrest, we found it difficult to crack him initially. But when we strategically showed some affection towards him, he confessed to his involvement in various crimes. Such was his nature… He had warned his gang members not to snatch mangalsutra (auspicious marriage chain) from any woman while looting other valuables from houses. He even slammed his aides if they showed disrespect to women while committing crimes,” said Joshi.