A special court in Pune has convicted seven individuals, including two women, for their involvement in the 2016 robbery of the Pune District Central Co-operative Bank (PDCC) in Rahu village. The court handed down sentences under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Gang Convicted for Rs 65 Lakh Heist
The incident, which occurred on September 10, 2016, saw armed robbers attack security guards at the PDCC Bank branch in Rahu village, Daund taluka, and make off with cash totaling Rs 65,57,495. Investigations revealed that the perpetrators disabled CCTV cameras and a siren before forcibly entering the bank by cutting the grills of a window. They then tied up the two security guards on duty before accessing the safe.
The bank manager, Nikhil Manik, filed the initial First Information Report (FIR) at the Yavat police station. The subsequent police investigation identified ten individuals involved in the robbery, leading to the arrest of seven persons. These included Sachin Appa alias Bhausaheb Ithape, Ramdas alias Zingya alias Pappu Yashwant Dhage, Satish Appa Ithape alias Satish Patil, Mangala Appa Ithape, Prithviraj Dattatraya Mane, Maruti Shivaji Sarade, and Priyanka Dnyaneshwar Lokare.
Sentencing and Forfeiture of Assets
Special Judge P.P. Jadhav delivered the verdict, sentencing Sachin Ithape, Ramdas Dhage, Prithviraj Mane, and Maruti Sarde to rigorous life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh each. Satish Patil, Mangala Ithape, and Priyanka were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh each.
The court also ordered the attachment and forfeiture of properties acquired by the accused using the stolen funds, with the proceeds to be credited to the state. During the investigation, police recovered masks, cash, debit cards, cheque books, and documents related to property purchases made with the looted money from the accused.
The police had invoked the stringent MCOCA in this case, filing a chargesheet before a special court for MCOCA cases in Pune. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajendra More led the investigation.
It was also revealed that some of the accused have prior criminal records. An accused, Tushar Shivaji Sarade, who had been on the run, was apprehended in July 2022, and a supplementary chargesheet was filed against him. However, two other accused, Dnyaneshwar Jagannath Lokare and Bablu Arvind Salve, remain absconding.
The robbery spree of this gang was not limited to the PDCC Bank heist, as evidence suggested their involvement in similar criminal activities in the Satara and Nagar districts. The investigation indicated that the gang meticulously planned their operations. The court’s decision underscores the severity of organized crime and the legal framework in place to combat it within Maharashtra.
The Chenab Times News Desk