On the run for 10 years, Pune cops nab dreaded criminal

Police also arrested his two accomplices from Madhya Pradesh in a joint operation by Pune and Madhya Pradesh police.

The Wakad police have arrested a dreaded criminal and two of his associates wanted for the last 10 years for committing major crimes in various districts of Maharashtra.

A total of eight cases had been registered against the three culprits at various police stations in different districts of Maharashtra. (HT PHOTO FOR REPRESENTATION)

The police have arrested Vijay aka Chhalya Gopinath Chavan, 48, a resident of Shrirampur, Ahmednagar; Govind Kale, 28, a native of Jalna district and Shiva Kisan Pawar, 27, a resident of Pune for their involvement in a spate of criminal activities, including chain and other ornaments snatching, alteration of currency coins and other thefts.

The police have recovered gold weighing 401 grams, estimated to be worth Rs 16.3 lakh, from their possession. A total of eight cases had been registered against the trio at various police stations in different districts of Maharashtra.

The gang leader Vijay, who had been on the run for the last ten years, was arrested from Madhya Pradesh (MP) in a joint operation with the MP police.

Pradip Deshpande, additional commissioner of police (crime), Pune said, “We have arrested a dreaded criminal and his two accomplices for their involvement in various criminal activities,” he said.