In a swift operation, the Pune City Police's Crime Branch has cracked a case of armed robbery at a prominent jewellery store, leading to the arrest of three adults and the detention of three minor boys. The incident, which sent shockwaves through the Shewalewadi area near Hadapsar, involved masked assailants looting gold and silver ornaments at knifepoint.
The Armed Heist at Mahavir Jewellers
The robbery took place on January 3, around 5:30 PM, at Mahavir Jewellers. According to the police, the accused entered the shop and threatened the owner, Mahendra Solanki, with sharp weapons. The masked robbers then proceeded to loot a substantial quantity of gold and silver jewellery before fleeing the scene on two-wheelers. A terrified Solanki subsequently lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Manjari police station, initiating the investigation.
Investigation and CCTV Breakthrough
Police teams immediately began scouring footage from CCTV cameras installed at the jewellery shop and surrounding locations. The footage confirmed that the perpetrators had covered their faces, complicating identification. However, diligent analysis by the crime branch provided crucial clues. Acting on these leads, a team led by Inspector Chhagan Kapse, with assistant inspectors C D Berad and Madan Kamble, and sub-inspectors S J Tanawde and Abhijit Pawar, laid a trap.
Arrests and Recovery of Stolen Ornaments
The police's strategy paid off on Sunday evening when they apprehended a minor along with his two adult accomplices. The arrested adults were identified as Pravin Mahadev Shinde (18) from Fursungi and Bhavesh Rajesh Chavan (20) from Hadapsar. Interrogation of this trio revealed the involvement of three more suspects. Following this information, police teams nabbed Rajdeep Jagtap (21) of Loni Kalbhor and two other minors in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
The police have successfully recovered 224.92 grams of gold and 183 grams of silver ornaments from the accused. The three minors have been sent to an observation home as per legal protocol. The three adult accused—Pravin Shinde, Bhavesh Chavan, and Rajdeep Jagtap—have been formally arrested under Sections 310(2) and 312 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
Ongoing Probe and Legal Action
The case is now being thoroughly investigated by a police team headed by Senior Police Inspector Babasaheb Nikam of the Manjari police station. The swift resolution of this armed robbery highlights the effectiveness of coordinated police work and technological tools like CCTV surveillance in tackling serious crime in Pune's urban landscape.
