Pune IT engineer attack case: Gangster Gajanan Marne arrested, MCOCA invoked

During the media interaction, Kumar said three persons were so far arrested in this case, whereas the gang leader and 27 gang members are on the run. And, within a few hours, gangster Marne surrendered himself at the Kothrud police station. Police then formally arrested him in this case.

Police arrested three key Gajanan Marne aides identified as On Dharmajidnyasu (35), Kiran Kondiba Padwal (31) and Amol Vinayak Tapkir (35) in this case. One more accused Babu Pawar, known to be a family member of Marne, was also booked in this and is on the run. Police paraded the three arrested accused in Kothrud area. A court remanded the trio to police custody for three days for further investigation.

Police said that some of the Marne gang members had gone for a movie before the attack on the IT engineer was carried out. Police are probing their whereabouts and conversations.

“Police have no grudges against anyone who wants to join the mainstream. But if anyone (gangsters) is found doing any misadventures, then police will give a 100 times more aggressive response,” he said.

Police conducted searches at 74 locations in Pune and Mulshi to nab members of the Marne gang. “We are gathering details of the movable and immovable properties of these gangsters. Information regarding their vehicles is being sought from the RTO. Their mobile phone call details are being investigated. Information is being procured from PMC about properties in the name of these gangsters. If inquiry reveals they have made any illegal constructions, steps will be taken to demolish the illegal structures,” the police commissioner said.

The Gajanan Marne gang allegedly thrashed a 33-year-old IT engineer Devendra Purushottam Jog while he was riding a two-wheeler through a Shiv Jayanti procession at Bhelke Nagar in Kothrud last on February 19. A resident of Mayur Colony in Kothrud, Jog received severe injuries and was admitted to a hospital for treatment. He lodged the FIR in this case at the Kothrud police station. The complainant stated that he went to Bhelke Nagar area in Kothrud on his two-wheeler around 4 pm.

Later, while riding towards Gujrat Colony, he came across a procession marking the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was passing through the procession when some persons intercepted him and blamed him for dashing into them. They then allegedly thrashed him badly. One of the attackers also allegedly used a belt.

The victim is said to be a supporter of BJP MP and minister Murlidhar Mohol. After the MP found out about the incident, he spoke to the victim over phone. The minister blasted the police for such incidents and asked the cops to introspect and take strong action against criminal elements in the city.

Marne has been a notorious criminal on police record since 1988. He has been named as an accused in as many as 27 offences in the past, which includes serious crimes such as murders and attempted murders and extortions. He was booked under MCOCA even in the past and was also externed twice from the city limits due to his criminal activities.

Special desk for action against gangsters

Kumar on Monday said that a special desk was formed to deal with complaints filed by citizens against gangsters. Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Nikhil Pingle will supervise the special desk for a co-ordinated action against the gangsters. Kumar appealed to the citizens to come forward and file their complaint at the special desk. Kumar assured maintaining secrecy about complainants. He also assured police would ensure security of the complainants.

Kumar said police have also taken serious note of criminal elements who go on a rampage and damage vehicles parked on the streets, causing “public disorder”. “Action is being taken to prevent such incidents and that criminals involved in such crimes are put behind bars,” he said.

Attacks on morning walkers: 2 probe teams formed

Taking cognisance of the rise in attacks on citizens during morning walk at different locations, Pune city police have formed two special teams to arrest gangs involved in crimes. Kumar admitted there was a rise in robberies on morning walkers.

“There have been 14 such incidents since January this year. Of these, four cases have been detected and attempts are on to solve the remaining offences. Two special special teams have been formed for the purpose. We have identified a gang involved in these crimes. The accused persons would be arrested and stern action would be taken against them under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA),” said Kumar.

Three men on a motorcycle threatened an 83 year old senior citizen at knife point and robbed his gold ring, when he was out for a morning walk, behind Emerald Isle on the Lohegaon road, around 7 am Saturday. The victim later lodged the first information report (FIR) in this case at Wagholi police station.

On February 15, police arrested two persons and detained a minor aide of theirs for robbing people out on their morning walks on D P Road in Erandwane. Last year on June 13, a 77-year-old Samir Roychoudhary (77) was attacked and killed for money when he was on a morning walk at Parihar Chowk in Aundh. Six persons were arrested in this case. That same morning, the accused had also also attacked a cyclist, Shreyas Satish Shetty (30), with an iron rod and tried to rob him in Aundh area.