Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Rural Police have successfully apprehended a gang responsible for stealing copper wire from a transformer and cargo top lamination worth over Rs14 lakh from a company in Sillod taluka. The police arrested five individuals, including the alleged mastermind Irshad Naim Shaikh (31) from Nashik, and recovered the stolen materials along with two vehicles used in the crime.
The other accused are Naushad Alam Fazal Shaikh, Rehman alias Alam Fazal Shaikh, Rizwan Rahim Shaikh (all from Nashik), and Shaikh Mehboob alias Sharukh Shaikh Yousuf from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The theft was reported by Akashchand Gaurthakur, owner of a food processing factory on his farm in Anvi Shivar, who lodged a complaint with Sillod Rural Police. The stolen copper wire and lamination were valued at approximately Rs12 lakh.
Under the directive of SP Dr. Vinaykumar Rathod, the local crime branch (LCB) collaborated with Sillod Rural Police. Using technical evidence and informants’ tips, the police traced the gang’s leader, Irshad Naim Shaikh, arresting him from Nashik on March 29. Following his confession, the other gang members were also arrested.
The operation was overseen by SP Dr. Rathod and Additional SP Annapurna Singh, with the active involvement of officers from the local crime branch and Sillod Rural Police teams.
