Pune: In a disturbing misuse of authority, four constables from Pune’s Wanawadi police station exploited the city’s widespread fear of the violent “Koyta” gangs to coerce a Karnataka-based jeweller into handing over hundreds of grams of gold. The victim, Kapil Mafatlal Jain, later discovered that the officers—Mahesh Gadhave, Sarfraj Deshmukh, Sandeep Salve, and Somnath Kamble—never processed the seizure through official channels.
Jain first came to their attention in December 2024, when one of the gang suspects had pawned a 10-gram gold necklace with him for ₹30,000 as part of an ongoing theft investigation. Despite clarifying his lawful involvement, the constables accused him of dealing in stolen gold connected to the gang and demanded a kilogram of gold. Under mounting pressure—even via calls to his son—Jain eventually surrendered 279.980 grams. No paperwork was ever filed at Wanawadi station, and subsequent inquiries revealed the officers had divided the bullion among themselves.
Alarmed, Jain lodged a complaint with Karnataka police, who then contacted Wanawadi authorities only to find no record of the alleged seizure. On December 18, 2024, he formally approached the Wanawadi Assistant Commissioner of Police but withdrew the complaint on January 23, 2025, citing fear.
Despite the withdrawal preventing criminal prosecution, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr. Rajkumar Shinde ordered an internal probe. The inquiry concluded in April 2025 with each constable receiving a ₹5,000 on-duty fine—an official reprimand that now mars their service records. This case has prompted senior Pune Police leadership to reaffirm their commitment to integrity, even as they continue to tackle real Koyta gang activity across the city.
