Pune police have arrested a 34-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh and recovered gold jewellery, a mobile phone and other items valued at ₹21.21 lakh while solving 13 alleged chain-snatching and mangalsutra-theft cases, officials said on October 17.
The accused was identified as Vijaypal Kawar Sain, a resident of Islamapur Ghasoli in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh. Faraskhana police said he and five alleged accomplices targeted devotees in crowded locations, including festivals and processions, by cutting jewellery chains with tools.
The investigation began after a theft reported during a Ganesh immersion procession on September 25. At about 10.45 pm, Sagar Prakash Komati and his friend Vikrant Shinde were watching the procession near Belbag Chowk on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Road in Pune’s Budhwar Chowk area when they were allegedly confronted by a group of six people.
According to DCP (Zone 1) Krushikesh Rawale, one member of the group allegedly removed a Samsung mobile phone from Komati’s trouser pocket while the others surrounded and assaulted him. The group allegedly threatened him with a knife and used an iron cutter to remove a gold chain from his neck.
The chain weighed 38.320 grams and was valued at ₹1,21,476, while the stolen phone was valued at ₹25,000. The total loss reported in that incident was ₹1,46,476.
Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Deshmane, who heads Faraskhana police station, said police head constable Gajanan Sonune and constable Chetan Holkar received information indicating that the accused belonged to a gang from Shamli district. After Sain was detained and questioned, police said he admitted to the reported offence and disclosed the alleged involvement of five associates in this and other cases.
A police team travelled to Uttar Pradesh and recovered 139.720 grams of gold jewellery, the mobile phone reported stolen from Komati, a sharp knife and an iron cutter. “The total value of the seized property is ₹21,21,100. The investigation solved the case registered in Pune and 12 other cases, for a total of 13 chain-snatching and mangalsutra-theft cases,” DCP Rawale said.
The investigation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Rajesh Bansode, DCP Rawale and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sachin Hire of the Faraskhana division. The police team included officers and personnel from Faraskhana police station and the division’s investigative units.
The case highlights the security challenges faced by residents and visitors in densely crowded public spaces during religious processions, where close physical movement can make theft and assaults harder to detect. Police said the investigation into the alleged accomplices and the linked cases is continuing.
