Five held in highway dacoity case in Pune

A gang of five highway robbers were arrested for allegedly looting a tempo driver to the tune of Rs 1.45 lakh cash on December 20 night near to Chandani chwok area on Mumbai - Bangalore highway.

The tempo driver Maruti Takale had lodged a complaint with Hinjewadi police in this regard. Police claimed that might have been involved in other robberies cases in the Hinjewadi area.
The arrested suspects were identified as Sachin Bajirao Gojpagar (31), Sushant Kuchikar (19), Aakash Mohan Bhore (22), Asif Rehman Shaikh (19) and Avinash Subhash Punawale (19), all of Pimple Saudagar.

Speaking to dna, police sub inspector MD Sangade of Hinjewadi police station said, “Takale is cement distributor in the city. He buys cement from Khed Shivapur area and supplies it in different areas of the city. On December 20, when he arrived in Chandani chwok area, five dacoits attacked him and looted cash Rs 1.45 lakh, his pan card, driving license and debit card at knife point and disappeared from the area.”

Sanagade added, “Acting on a tip-off, we arrested mastermind Kuchikar, who had assembled all other suspects and hatched a plan.”

Sanagde said, “The suspects came on motorcycle and parked their vehicles in isolated areas. After seeing the driver alone in the vehicle, they looted him.”

The suspects were remanded in police custody till December 31.