In a swift and decisive operation, the Kolhapur police have cracked a major armed dacoity case, arresting seven suspects within just 12 hours of the crime that saw valuables worth Rs 1.2 crore being looted from a private bus. The police have successfully recovered the entire stolen property, which included 60 kilograms of silver and 10 grams of gold.
The Midnight Highway Heist
The incident unfolded late on Monday night along the national highway to Bengaluru. A group of armed men forced a Mumbai-bound private bus to stop at Wathar, about 22km from Kolhapur city. They targeted an Angadia (courier) service staffer on board, making off with the precious metals and some machinery parts. The bus was carrying 31 passengers at the time.
According to Inspector Pramod Shinde of the Vadgaon police station, the driver managed to contact the police after reaching the Kini toll booth. "We found that none of the passengers knew what was happening in the driver's cabin. Maybe they were sleeping, and due to the sound of the air conditioning system, they may not have heard the commotion," Shinde stated. The suspects had strategically stopped the bus just before the toll booth to avoid being captured on CCTV cameras.
Inside Job and a Week-Long Plot
The investigation quickly revealed an inside job. The bus cleaner, identified as 22-year-old Saifu Afghani from Uchgaon's Madina Colony, was among those arrested. Police said Saifu, who knew the Angadia worker well due to his frequent trips, conspired with the main suspect, 31-year-old Akshay Kadam from Kolhapur's Vikram Nagar, and five others.
The plot was hatched a week prior. Saifu, along with his brother Jaid (21), who were under a debt of Rs 8 lakh, shared information about the valuable consignment on the bus. Jaid then roped in his friend Akshay Kadam and Aman Sayyad (21). They further brought in three more accomplices from Sangli: Sujal Chougale (20), Adinath Vipate (25), and Adesh Kamble (18).
Execution and Swift Crackdown
As per the plan, Kadam and Jaid boarded the bus at Kawala Naka. After the bus crossed Wathar, they entered the driver's cabin, threatened him with a machete, and forced him to stop. "The two also put the machete to the neck of the cleaner and asked the driver to stop the bus and open the luggage space. They beat up the driver and the cleaner before taking the parcels," the police explained. Two more accused arrived on bikes to help them flee.
The police crackdown was rapid. "Tracing the movement of the bikes from the crime spot back to Kolhapur, we identified one of the accused as Akshay Kadam, who is known for petty crimes. A search of his house led to the recovery of the robbed silver and gold," said Inspector Shinde. Kadam's interrogation revealed that the gang was to meet at Temblai Nagar in Kolhapur to divide the loot, leading to the arrest of the remaining accused there.
All seven arrested suspects were presented before a Kolhapur court on Wednesday, which granted police custody until December 26. The recovered valuables remain in police custody and will be returned to the Angadia firm only after due verification through the court.
