Liquor addict fakes robbery; arrested

Pune: A 20-year-old resident of Karve Road’s Bhalekar Chawl has been arrested by sleuths of crime branch (Unit I) on charges of faking robbery in his house and theft of gold valuables worth Rs2 lakh on March 4. 
According to the police, Pankaj Dighe stole the valuables kept inside the house cupboard at a time when the family members were away. He himself went to Deccan police station and lodged a complaint related to theft the same day.
The crime branch got a wind of Dighe’s involvement after he was seen exchanging gold for cash at one of the illicit liquor dens in Nal Stop area. 
Dighe’s addiction for liquor compelled him to sell domestic gold ornaments belonging to his family. On being convinced that Dighe had stolen the ornaments, a team of Unit I officials under the guidance of police inspector Sunil Deshmukh laid a trap and arrested Dighe. The crime branch officials have recovered gold mangalsutra amounting to Rs24,000 from his possession. Deshmukh said that Dighe confessed that he had stolen the ornaments to meet his liquor expenses and also to pay loans he had borrowed from friends and acquaintances to meet his liquor needs.” 
He had mislead family members and lodged a false complaint with the Deccan police. We have arrested him and investigations are on to ascertain some other facts in the case,” he said.