Five individuals, including three women, were arrested on Sunday by Pune city crime branch officials for allegedly snatching gold chains from warkaris during the palkhi processions of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj. Police recovered 20 stolen gold chains valued at Rs 23.91 lakh from the accused.
The suspects, hailing from Solapur and Latur districts, had traveled to Pune with the specific intent to snatch gold chains from warkaris. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pankaj Deshmukh confirmed that the arrested individuals are from Udgir in Latur and Solapur.
The arrests were made following a tip-off during the palkhi processions by a team led by police inspectors Wahid Pathan and Sanjay Patange, along with assistant police inspector Madan Kamble. Currently, six FIRs have been registered against the suspects at Hadapsar and Loni Kalbhor police stations, with more expected as victims come forward.
In a related case, Arbaaz Naushad Sheikh (19) from Maharajpur, Jharkhand, along with a 17-year-old juvenile accomplice, were arrested for allegedly stealing 14 cellphones worth Rs 4.5 lakh from warkaris. The Wanowrie police have registered a case against them.
Police also detained 25 other individuals from neighboring districts who had come to Pune with similar criminal intent, effectively preventing further crimes during the palkhi processions, said Deshmukh.
