Interstate borders no bar for new breed of criminals

Interrogation of Sharad Mohol, 27, a dreaded gangster, has revealed how local criminals are expanding their network, and becoming a part of interstate syndicates. Mohol had let loose a rein of terror and lawlessness by indulging in kidnappings and extortions in the city.

Mohol, who was wanted in the kidnapping of Shankar Dhindale, the sarpanch of Dasve village in Mulshi taluka, and extorting Rs47 lakh from him, had managed to give a slip to the police by being on the move constantly and going into hiding in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior police inspector Sunil Darekar, who is interrogating Mohol, said,

“After Dhindale was kidnapped, the police and crime branch had launched a manhunt to nab Mohol. We started with combing operations in the city, and then spread out to the outskirts. We even scanned our neighbouring districts, but could not trace Mohol, who was holed up in Uttar Pradesh.”

Darekar said, “After extorting money from Dhindale, Mohol is believed to have gone to Daund. Daund is a major junction where all trains, plying between Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, halt. From Daund, Mohol headed up north and reached Uttar Pradesh.”

Senior police officials said, “Mohol is believed to have gone to Meerut, where he was provided refuge by some local elements. Mohol had formed an alliance with these elements, who are suspected to be involved in illegal sale of firearms and other criminal activities. We suspect that Mohol came in contact with these people during a firearm deal. With the help of these local elements, Mohol managed to remain in hiding in Uttar Pradesh for 3 long months.”

After spending over 75 days in Uttar Pradesh, Mohol thought that things must have cooled off in Pune and returned to the city.
On his return to Pune, he hired a flat in Katraj. The police came to know of his whereabouts after they nabbed one of his close aides, Alok Bhalerao, and he spilled the beans.