12 hrs after robbery, 7 held for looting jewellery store in Pune

The accused persons had allegedly barged into BGS Jewellers around 12.10 pm on Saturday. Pointing a revolver at the shop owner and a staffer, they looted gold ornaments. They also thrashed the staffer and escaped from the spot on their two wheelers.

A first information report (FIR) was lodged in the case at Wanavdi police station under sections 395, 397, 398 of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Arms Act.

Police launched a probe into the incident based on clues obtained from videos captured by the CCTV cameras installed in the jewellery shop.

Police teams led by senior inspectors Pratap Mankar, Kratikumar Patil and inspectors Ajay Waghmare and Ulhas Kadam, nabbed the accused persons within 12 hours. As per the FIR, it was initially learnt that the accused had robbed about 300 grams of gold ornaments from the shop. But investigations revealed they actually robbed more jewellery.

Deputy Commissioner of police Amol Zende said that 601.15 grams of gold ornaments, a four wheeler, two two-wheeler vehicles, six cell phones, all worth Rs 48.30 lakh, was recovered from the accused persons. Police said accused persons Pawale, Gade and Mayur Patel are history sheeters who were earlier arrested in murder cases.

Probe revealed that Patel is the main accused. Police suspect that he tried to loot the jewellery shop twice in the past, but failed. Finally, he committed the jewellery shop heist on Saturday, but was arrested along with his accomplices, police said.