Thane builder-influencer ‘Pookie Don’ arrested after 371 cartridges, 167 air gun pellets recovered from Dombivli home

Surendra Panduranga Patil was arrested on Saturday after the Crime Branch conducted a raid at his bungalow in the Dawdi area of Dombivli based on a tip-off.

Updated on: Apr 1, 2026, 16:02:15 IST

Edited by Shivya Kanojia

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A 55-year-old builder and social media influencer, Surendra Panduranga Patil, has been arrested in Maharashtra’s Thane district for alleged possession of illegal weapons, police said on Tuesday.

Patil, a popular social media personality with over 304k followers on Instagram, was arrested on Saturday (Instagram)

Patil was arrested on Saturday night after the Crime Branch conducted a raid at his bungalow in the Dawdi area of Dombivli based on a tip-off, news agency PTI reported.

"Acting on a tip-off, our team searched Patil's bungalow in the Dawdi area of Dombivli late on Saturday night. We recovered a cache of weapons hidden behind a fake panel of a newly installed shoe rack that did not match the house's interior," an official told PTI.

What police recovered

According to officials, the haul included multiple weapons and ammunition, collectively valued at around ₹10 lakh. The recovered items include- five country-made pistols and revolvers, some engraved with 'Made in USA,' and two air guns, were seized, along with 371 cartridges, 167 air gun pellets, a sword, a button knife, a sharp-edged weapon, and two steel rods.

Also read | Three held for stealing 58 bikes across Thane, 41 cases cracked

Police said the weapons were concealed in a hidden compartment behind a false panel attached to a shoe rack.

‘Pookie Don’ persona under scrutiny

Patil is not just a local builder, he has built a following of over three lakh users on Instagram, where he is known by nicknames such as ‘Pookie Uncle’ and ‘Pookie Don’.

He had reportedly earlier courted controversy for making a social media reel inside a police inspector’s cabin at the Manpada police station, where he posed with a service weapon, The Indian Express reported.

Also read | 19 years on, ex-Income Tax officer gets six-month RI in bribery case

Patil had been released on bail in another case just a week before this arrest. With the latest recovery, he now faces fresh charges under the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.

Police is continuing to probe whether the weapons were indeed limited to social media use, as claimed, or part of a larger network involving illegal arms circulation.

(With PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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