Nagpur: In a major crackdown on vehicle theft, the Crime Branch Unit 5 of Nagpur Police has apprehended a gang involved in stealing two-wheelers across the city. A total of 62 stolen motorcycles, worth approximately ₹20.45 lakh, have been recovered. Investigations revealed that the accused used the stolen money to fund their online gambling activities.
The arrests were made following an extensive probe into multiple vehicle thefts reported in Nagpur over the past seven months. Crime Branch officials analyzed CCTV footage from around 200 locations and tracked down a suspect seen in one of the videos. On February 21, the police laid a trap near Maharajbagh, where they apprehended Akash Kishor Khobragade (25), a resident of Sitasawangi, Bhandara. During interrogation, he confessed to committing thefts along with his associates Akash Sampatlal Parteki (27) and Mayank alias Kish Vinod Barik (19).
Bikes Stolen Using Master Keys, Sold to Mechanic Shop
The accused admitted to using master keys to unlock motorcycles parked in crowded areas, particularly targeting Splendor Plus bikes. They later sold these stolen vehicles to Deepak Dwarkaprasad Bijande (24) and his brother Vijay alias Golu Bijande (34), both owners of a bike repair shop in Tumsar, Bhandara. Acting on this information, the Crime Branch raided the shop and detained the buyers. Several stolen vehicles were found parked outside the shop, while others had been sold to nearby villages.
Upon recovery, it was revealed that the gang had stolen bikes from various police jurisdictions, including:
• Nagpur city: Yashodharanagar (2), Sadar (6), Kapil Nagar (3), Jaripatka (3), Lakadganj (3), Koradi (1), Nandanvan (1), Ganeshpeth (1), Tehsil (1), Kamthi (1)
• Nagpur rural: Ramtek (7), Kanhan (4)
• Other regions: Multiple cases in Madhya Pradesh, Bhandara, and Gondia
A total of 62 stolen two-wheelers, 4 mobile phones, and master keys, collectively valued at ₹20.45 lakh, have been seized. So far, 38 caseshave been officially solved.
Gang Used Stolen Money for Online Gambling
Further interrogation revealed that the accused spent the money obtained from selling stolen vehicles on online gaming and gambling. The police have arrested all five accused, and further investigations are underway to trace additional stolen vehicles and identify more buyers involved in the racket.
