Latur: What initially appeared as a bold daylight bag-snatching involving Rs 10 lakh turned out to be a staged incident. Police have arrested Ratnadeep Sonkamble (20) from Meennagar, Dharashiv district, and his associate Altaf Amin Badgire (20) from Balsur, after uncovering their involvement in fabricating the crime to embezzle funds.
Sonkamble had lodged a complaint at Shivajinagar police station claiming his bag containing Rs 10 lakh—sent from Mumbai to pay fees—was snatched by an unknown thief. An FIR was registered and an investigation was launched under the supervision of Additional SP Mangesh Chavan and SDPO Sameersinh Salve.
Following a tip-off, police apprehended Badgire near Dayanand College gate. Under questioning, he confessed that the robbery was orchestrated by Sonkamble and others to divert the money. Police then detained Sonkamble, who admitted to hiding the bag in a hotel room after staging the theft.
The cash bag, containing Rs 9.5 lakh, was recovered. Meanwhile, two others — Vijay Gaikwad and Suraj Kadam from Latur — remain absconding. Authorities noted that all suspects are unemployed.
SP Amol Tambe said, “The complainant himself masterminded the fake theft. Two accused have been arrested and produced before court, while efforts continue to trace the others.”
