Pune: The Chandan Nagar Police have arrested a MCOCA-registered criminal who had been evading arrest for the past two years. The accused had created a reign of terror in the Wadgaon Sheri area, particularly on the Old Mundhwa Road, where a gang had threatened to kill a person. A case had been registered at Chandan Nagar Police Station in connection with the incident. Since October 2023, the accused had been on the run.
The arrested individual has been identified as Nishant alias Monya Ramesh Bhalerao (age 20, resident of Ganesh Nagar, Wadgaon Sheri).
According to police reports, Bhalerao, who was wanted in a MCOCA case, had been absconding for the past two years. Police constable Vishwanath Gone received a tip-off that Bhalerao would be arriving near Nagpal Road in Kharadi. Acting on the information, Sub-Inspector Ajay Asawale and officers Gone, Ramchandra Gurav, Vikas Kadam, and Shekhar Shinde formed a team and rushed to the spot. They noticed a person standing in the area. On seeing the police, the suspect tried to flee, but the team chased him down and detained him for questioning, eventually confirming his identity.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner Himmat Jadhav, and Assistant Commissioner Pranjali Sonawane. The team comprised Senior Inspector Seema Dhakane, Sub-Inspector Ajay Asawale, and police personnel Vishwanath Gone, Ramchandra Gurav, Vikas Kadam, and Shekhar Shinde.
Absconding Since 2023
On October 10, 2023, around 1:30 AM, a group of 4–6 unidentified goons arrived on motorcycles near Café Buddha’s Chinese Hotel on Old Mundhwa Road in Wadgaon Sheri, along with accused Shubham Bhosale (27, resident of Bund Garden). They began abusing and threatening a person with death. They then charged at the individual, who fled towards Dr. Ambedkar Vasahat to save his life.
The gang followed him and vandalised several vehicles—including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers—parked outside the locality. They created panic by shouting loudly and waving sharp weapons and wooden sticks in the air, causing residents to flee in fear.
A case was registered at the Chandan Nagar Police Station, and the main accused, Nishant alias Monya Ramesh Bhalerao, had been on the run since the incident.
