Christian missionary nabs conman at CST station

A Solapur-based Christian missionary succeeded in nabbing a conman who was trying to loot him at CST station on Tuesday. This was despite the fact that the victim was in a semi conscious state after eating ice-cream mixed with sedative offered by the accused.

“Pramod Ingale alias D'Souza alias Vijay Sawant, 35, a resident of Kalachowky in Central Mumbai was arrested for drugging and looting passengers. The police have recovered a packet of sleeping pills and stolen identity card of Pramod Ingale, a central railway employee from him," said senior police inspector Ashok Kumar Jadhav of CST railway police station.

The accused, Sawant, hails from Karad in Satara district.
The victim, Dinesh Gaikwad, 31, had come to Mumbai to buy religious books at Dadar. After purchasing books, was waiting at platform number 12 to catch the Solapur bound Siddeshwar Express. "I was sitting on the bench at passengers' hall.

A passenger came and introduced himself as Mr D'Souza and started talking to me," said Gaikwad. A little while later, he got up to brought two cups of ice-cream and handed one to Gaikwad, who on eating it began to feel giddy. Suspecting foul play, he threw the ice cream away and then realized that ‘Mr D' Souza’ was attempting to open his suitcase. He caught his hand and screamed for help.

The police personnel patrolling the area rushed to help. Gaikwad managed to tell them about the robbery attempt before falling unconscious. The police rushed Gaikwad to St George Hospital at CST for medical treatment where he regained consciousness the next morning.

Jadhav added that the police have recorded Gaikwad's statement and registered a case against the conman.