Pune Police nab 6-member interstate gang linked to 50+ criminal cases
Synopsis
A stolen jeep, a villager's shout of 'Thief!', and a six-hour manhunt across hills and valleys — Pune Rural Police dismantled a six-member interstate gang reportedly linked to over 50 criminal cases across Maharashtra, Telangana, and other states, recovering weapons and ₹14.87 lakh in stolen property.
Key Takeaways
Six members of an interstate criminal gang were arrested on 12 July 2025 in Kolwadi village, Junnar taluka, Pune .
The joint operation involved the Local Crime Branch and Otur Police Station , aided by local villagers and Police Patils .
Interrogation revealed the gang's alleged involvement in 20 criminal cases across Maharashtra and Telangana , including dacoity, robbery, and housebreaking.
Collectively, the six accused are linked to more than 50 criminal cases across multiple states.
Police seized a country-made pistol , live cartridges, sharp-edged weapons, and a stolen jeep — total value ₹14,87,820 .
All six accused will be produced in court; police custody has been sought for further investigation.
Pune Rural Police arrested six members of an interstate criminal gang on 12 July 2025 in Kolwadi village, Junnar taluka, foiling a planned dacoity and recovering property worth ₹14.87 lakh. The joint operation by the Local Crime Branch and Otur Police Station followed a tip-off about a stolen jeep spotted in the area, officials said.
How the Arrest Unfolded
The operation began when a stolen jeep — originally taken from the Loni Pravara area of Ahilyanagar district — was spotted near Kolwadi village on the morning of 12 July. Vignesh Subhash Gholap, a relative of the vehicle's owner, confronted a group of suspicious individuals, triggering an argument. When Gholap raised an alarm shouting 'Thief! Thief!', local villagers rushed to the spot and helped detain two of the accused on the spot, while the remaining four fled into the surrounding hills.
Police teams reached the area shortly after and, with support from Police Patils of Aalme, Ballalwadi, Kolwadi and Dingore villages, launched an extensive search across the terrain. The operation lasted nearly six hours, at the end of which all four absconding accused were traced and arrested.
Who Was Arrested
The six accused have been identified as Sonusingh Kapursingh Tak (30), Jilusingh Shersingh Dudhani (40), Karansingh Gagansingh Tak (27), Pankajsingh Kalusingh Shikalgar alias Dudhani (40), Papisingh alias Krishnasingh Sahebsingh Tak (18), and Mangalsingh Mayasingh Dudhani (58). The group spans three generations, with the youngest accused aged 18 and the oldest 58.
Scale of Criminal Activity
Interrogation of the accused allegedly led to the detection of 20 serious criminal cases across Maharashtra and Telangana, including two dacoity cases, one attempted dacoity, two robbery cases, 13 housebreaking cases, and two vehicle theft cases. Collectively, the six accused are reportedly linked to more than 50 criminal cases registered across multiple states.
Seizures and What's Next
Police recovered a country-made pistol, live cartridges, sharp-edged weapons, the stolen jeep, and several other articles used in criminal activities — collectively valued at ₹14,87,820. Officials confirmed all six accused will be produced before a court, where police custody will be sought to probe the gang's wider network and possible involvement in additional crimes. This comes amid a broader pattern of interstate criminal gangs operating across Maharashtra's rural districts, exploiting inter-state mobility to evade local law enforcement.
Point of View
Four of the six accused would likely have escaped. What deserves scrutiny is how a gang collectively linked to over 50 cases across multiple states operated without triggering coordinated inter-state surveillance earlier. Maharashtra's rural districts have repeatedly seen such gangs exploit jurisdictional gaps between state police forces; this case, with accused from what appear to be a closely-knit network spanning Maharashtra and Telangana, underscores the need for a shared inter-state criminal intelligence database with real teeth.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when were the six gang members arrested in Pune?
The six accused were arrested on 12 July 2025 in Kolwadi village, Junnar taluka, Pune district. The operation was conducted jointly by the Pune Rural Police's Local Crime Branch and Otur Police Station, with assistance from local villagers.
What criminal cases are the accused linked to?
Interrogation allegedly revealed involvement in 20 serious criminal cases across Maharashtra and Telangana, including two dacoity cases, one attempted dacoity, two robbery cases, 13 housebreaking cases, and two vehicle theft cases. Collectively, the six accused are reportedly linked to more than 50 criminal cases registered across multiple states.
What was seized during the Pune Rural Police operation?
Police recovered a country-made pistol, live cartridges, sharp-edged weapons, a stolen jeep originally taken from Loni Pravara in Ahilyanagar district, and several other articles. The total value of seized property and equipment was ₹14,87,820.
How did local villagers help in the arrest?
When Vignesh Subhash Gholap raised an alarm after confronting the suspects, local villagers rushed to the spot and helped detain two of the accused on the scene. Police Patils of Aalme, Ballalwadi, Kolwadi, and Dingore villages also assisted in the subsequent six-hour search operation that led to the arrest of the remaining four accused.
What happens next to the arrested gang members?
All six accused will be produced before a court, where police custody will be sought to facilitate further investigation into the gang's activities and potential involvement in additional crimes across states.
