CHANDRAPUR: The local crime branch has busted an interstate gang involved in thefts at over 11 banks, including one at Temurda branch of Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) in Warora tehsil here.
The kingpin and his five accomplices have been arrested. Cops have seized over 2.8kg gold and other valuables and tools collectively, worth Rs1.07 crore.
Unidentified thieves had sneaked into BoM Temurda on March 19 night. They used gas-cutter to remove the window before laying hands on cash of Rs 6.88 lakh and 93.100 gram gold, collectively worth Rs11.35 lakh, kept in the safe.
The case was handed over to LCB in-charge Balasaheb Khade who sent two separate teams under the API Jitendra Bobade and PSI Sandeep Kapade after the thieves.
SP Arvind Salve claimed that the investigators got some clues from CCTV footages though they were destroyed by the thieves. “The cyber cell played key role in investigations. Major breakthrough came after analyzing the modus operandi of the thieves,” he said.
“Soon it came to fore that similar thefts had occurred at banks in Telangana as well as in neighbouring Bhandara and Gondia districts in a month’s time. A similar theft had taken place at a bank in Madheli in Warora tehsil in 2013. Some accused were arrested from different states. Investigations had then revealed the involvement of a gang from Kakar village in Badayu district of Uttar Pradesh and some local criminals,” said Salve.
LCB teams first rounded up Devidas Kapgate and Raju Varbhe from Girola Heti village in Gondia and Sanket Uke from Padoli here. According to the SP, they confessed to their involvement in the bank theft with the help of Kakar gang,
The car used in the theft belonged to Varbhe. A team of nine LCB cops led by API Bobade and PSI Kapde was sent to Badayu to catch kingpin Nawab-ul-Hasan, who as per an intelligence input was going to meet his accomplice Danveer alias Gastu in Hasanpur.
Four teams were deployed on Hasanpur-Aalapur road. “When intercepted by cops, the duo got into a scuffle with them. Bobade and Kapde were injured but police team managed to arrest them. All the five accused in have been remanded in police custody up to April 8,” said SP Salve.
According to Salve, the same gang had earlier tried to break into BoM Temurda branch in 2019. He claimed that they have so far discovered the involvement of the gang in five cases in Bhandara, three in Gondia, one in Telangana, apart from one failed attempt and another successful theft at Temurda bank.
Cops have recovered 120 gold jewellery items worth Rs 1.01 crore along with tools, cutters, acetylene cylinder and the car used in the theft.
Four accused from Badayu district in UP are at large.