The Vishrambaug police have apprehended a criminal who posed as a police officer to rob people. The accused, Jafar Shahajaman Irani (41), is believed to be involved in approximately 20 robberies across Pune and Solapur, according to police reports.
Irani targeted elderly women, approaching them on a two-wheeler while wearing a helmet. Posing as a police officer, he would warn his victims about thefts and ask them to remove their jewellery and place it in a cloth bag for safekeeping. While the women complied, he would seize their gold and flee the scene.
In addition to these robberies, Irani also deceived victims by convincing them that their bikes were stolen vehicles. He claimed they needed to be handed over to the authorities for inspection, only to steal the bikes and use them for his criminal activities. He would alter the number plates and use these stolen bikes in subsequent robberies.
Irani’s capture came after a woman reported a gold chain snatching incident in Shaniwar Peth. Police Sub-Inspector Manoj Barure analyzed the area’s CCTV footage and identified Irani as the suspect. A police trap was set, and Irani was arrested in possession of 323 grams of gold, Rs1.25 lakh in cash, and three stolen bikes. The total value of the seized items has been estimated to be Rs30 lakh.
Sandeep Gill, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I), confirmed that a case had been lodged against Irani under the relevant sections of the BNS Act. Further investigations are underway to uncover more of his criminal activities.
