Panaji, Nov 2 (NationPress) In a significant development, the Porvorim police in Goa have effectively cracked a highway robbery case by apprehending a notorious criminal from Pune, as reported by officials on Sunday.

This arrest represents a crucial advancement in the investigation of a brazen robbery in which individuals impersonating police officers looted Rs 8,00,000 in cash from a vehicle on the highway last month.

According to Police Inspector Rahul Parab from the Porvorim Police Station, the incident took place on October 12, when a group of unidentified individuals posing as police officials halted a vehicle and robbed the occupants of Rs 8 lakh. Following the incident, the police assembled multiple teams to identify and locate the suspects.

The investigation led to Pune, Kalyan, and Mumbai, where a series of coordinated raids were conducted. During one of these operations, officers seized a scooter used by the suspects from Ambivali, Thane, which was then transported to Goa for further analysis.

To track down the suspects, the Porvorim police team carried out extensive surveillance operations, setting up base for several days in the infamous Irani Basti areas of Pune and Ambivali, Thane. Despite the suspects evading capture prior to the raids, investigators diligently monitored their movements.

With support from the Pune Crime Branch, authorities successfully captured one of the primary accused, Mukhtar Sayyad Irani, 34, a resident of Loni Kalbhor, Pune, on October 31.

He was transported to Goa and presented before the court, which ordered four days of police custody for further questioning.

The police disclosed that Mukhtar Irani is a repeat offender, previously implicated in 18 criminal cases across Maharashtra and Karnataka, encompassing theft and highway robbery.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover the stolen funds.

The operation was conducted under the oversight of SP North Rahul Gupta and SDPO Vishwesh Karpe, with the investigative team comprising PI Rahul Parab, PSI Sitaram Malik, PSI Mandar Parab, PSI Arun Shirodkar, and constables Mahadev Naik, Nitesh Gaude, Akash Navelkar, Amit Narvekar, Hemant Gaonkar, Bhikaji Parab, Devidas Malkar, among others.

Police officials stated that this arrest highlights the department's dedication to dismantling organized crime networks that operate across state borders.

The investigation remains active as authorities seek to locate additional members of the gang and recover the remaining stolen goods.