Alert cop foils possible bank robbery

A possible robbery at the Union Bank in Airoli was foiled after an alert police officer confronted the culprit and even fired at his car. The incident occurred around 10.50 am in Sector 6.

A possible robbery at the Union Bank in Airoli was foiled after an alert police officer confronted the culprit and even fired at his car. The incident occurred around 10.50 am in Sector 6.

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Beat marshal, assistant police inspector, Manish Shridhankar from Rabale police station, was patrolling the area along with two constables, Praful Bhansod and Suresh Mahatre, when he noticed that a red Swift car had been parked outside the bank for a long time.

The windshield and windows of the car were tinted black, which made Sridhankar suspicious. He said, “I approached the car and asked the man inside why he was parked there for so long. He didn’t respond. But, when I asked him for his papers, he panicked and immediately reversed the car and sped off. I fired one round at the car from my pistol but the car had raced towards Sector 8 and disappeared.”

Sridhankar described the man as being around 23-27 years with a good built, fair skin and curly hair. Deputy commissioner of police (zone 1) Ashok Dudhe said, “We are trying to find out where he is from on the basis of the description. We are taking the matter very seriously and investigating various angles.”

Police investigations have revealed that the licence plate with the number MH-12-FY-51 was stolen from Hinjewadi in Pune around four months ago. The number plate belonged to one Gulab Khadu Pudale who had parked the car, from which the number plate was stolen, outside his home.

A non-cognisable offence was also registered last month at Wakad in Pune, when the same Swift car tanked up on petrol even though it was a diesel car and rode off without paying.

Nasser Pathan, senior police inspector of Rabale police station, said, “The intention of the culprit was obviously to loot the bank. The brave action by our officer ensured that a dacoity was prevented in the area.”