Pune: In a significant move to tackle organized crime, Pune city police have booked two notorious gangs under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, following a series of serious offenses, including attempted murder, extortion, and illegal weapons possession.
The Kalepadal Police, under Crime No. 100/2025, registered a case against Rizwan alias Tipu Sattar Pathan (34), a known repeat offender from Syed Nagar, Mahandwadi. Tipu is accused of leading a criminal gang involved in land grabbing through the use of power tools, along with crimes such as murder, assault, extortion, and creating widespread fear in the community. His gang’s activities have been a source of terror in Pune city and surrounding areas.
In addition to Tipu, six of his accomplices have also been booked for their involvement in various criminal activities. These include Ijaz Sattar Pathan (39), a resident of Sadar; Nadeem Wawar Khan (41) from Syed Nagar; Saddam Salim Pathan (29), a chicken shop owner based in Hadapsar; Eijaz Yusuf Inamdar-Patel (33), a car trader from Hadapsar; Sajid Zibrail Nadaf (25), who operates a garage in Hadapsar; and Irfan Nasir Shaikh (26), a resident of Syed Nagar.
The gang is believed to have engaged in armed robberies, drug peddling, and extortion, contributing to a climate of fear in the region. Due to the severity of the crimes, the case against them has been escalated under Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2), and 3(4) of MCOCA.
In a parallel investigation under Crime No. 168/2025, Loni Kalbhor Police have booked Firoz Muhammad Shaikh (29), the alleged leader of another gang operating from Ghorpade Vasti, along with three of his associates. The accused in this case include Prasad Dattatraya Jethithor (20), a resident of Malimala; Aslam Anwar Sheikh (25) from Jaihindnagar Slum; and Aditya Prahlad Kalane, a resident of Kadamwak Vasti.
This gang is accused of attempting murder, possessing illegal firearms, and creating fear in the public through coordinated violent acts. Two juveniles involved in the gang have also been identified. Their case has been further strengthened with provisions from the Arms Act and Maharashtra Police Act, in addition to Sections 3(1)(i), 3(2), and 3(4) of MCOCA.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Circle 5), Dr. Rajkumar Shinde, has directed officers to closely monitor history-sheeters and gang members notorious for violent crimes. His leadership has already seen six successful anti-gang operations in the past four months aimed at curbing organized crime in the region.
The police are hopeful that invoking MCOCA in these cases will disrupt the operations of these gangs, serve as a strong deterrent to organized crime, and restore public safety in Pune.
