
MCOCA against dacoits who targeted windmill site in Beed
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Beed district police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against a gang of dacoits involved in a high-profile theft on April 7 when they looted equipment worth ₹12.9 lakh from Avada company's wind turbine installation site at Vida village in Kej taluka.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The site's watchman, Akash Bhaskar Jadhav (26), and his colleague, Abhijit Dundhav, filed a complaint in this regard. Jadhav said the incident occurred on April 7. Around 11.45pm, 14 unidentified people arrived at the location. When the complainants confronted them, four of them assaulted the duo with wooden sticks and tied them up. The remaining 10 climbed up a ladder into the wind turbine's structure and stole key components — including a rotor cable (Rs2 lakh), starter cable (Rs8.1 lakh) and earthing cable (Rs2.8 lakh) — together worth Rs12.9 lakh.
An FIR was filed under IPC section 310 (2) at Kej police station and a detailed investigation launched. On April 14, the Kej police and Beed's local crime branch teams arrested four of the accused — Baban Sardar Shinde (40) of Nandurghat, Dhanaji Ravji Kale (23) of Terkheda in Dharashiv, Mohan Hari Kale (30) and Lalasahab Sakharam Pawar (26) of Dasmegaon. Six other members of the gang have been identified and are absconding.
Police recovered stolen property — including copper wire and a four-wheeler — worth Rs9 lakh from the arrested men. Beed superintendent of police Navneet Kanwat said, "Investigations revealed that the gang has carried out 11 serious crimes in Beed and Dharashiv districts, including armed robberies, burglaries and grievous assaults within Kej, Neknur, Dhoki and Vashi police station limits."
Kej police inspector Vaibhav Patil prepared a proposal to invoke MCOCA based on the criminal history and organised nature of the gang. The proposal was submitted to Kanwat on May 13 and forwarded to special IG Virendra Mishra at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, who granted the sanction on May 29.
"Subsequently, MCOCA sections 3 (1) (ii), 3 (2) and 3 (4) were invoked. The case has been transferred to assistant SP Kamlesh Meena of Kej for further investigation," said Kanwat.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Thane MCOCA court acquits 14 alleged Ravi Pujari gang members
MUMBAI: A special court in Thane designated under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has acquitted 14 men accused of being members of gangster Ravi Pujari's syndicate, citing lack of sufficient evidence. Ravi Pujari is a notorious gangster who was allegedly involved in various murders and threats to Indian celebrities and businessmen. The court in Thane held that the prosecution failed to establish the charges against the 14 men, who were arrested by the Thane police crime branch following mobile phone surveillance and intelligence inputs suggesting a plan to rob multiple jewellery shops in the city. The men were charged with a series of serious offences, including preparation to commit dacoity, membership of a gang of dacoits, criminal conspiracy, possession of deadly weapons in violation of the Arms Act, disobedience of police orders, and offences under MCOCA, including committing and conspiring organised crime. Trial proceedings against eight of the accused were separated after they went absconding. In its detailed order issued on May 29, Special Judge Amit Shete noted that the prosecution failed to submit critical evidence, including details of the phone numbers allegedly under surveillance. 'The intercepted conversations do not indicate any clear plan to commit robbery,' the court observed. 'There is no material on record to show that the accused persons, by forming an organised crime syndicate, were indulging in offences for wrongful gain,' the court said. It also found no evidence of the accused being involved in a single common crime, weakening the case for criminal conspiracy. 'In conclusion, the investigating agencies have failed to collect sufficient material to implicate the accused. They are entitled to the benefit of doubt,' the court held. The verdict comes days after a court in Mumbai acquitted gangster Ravi Pujari in a separate case — the 1999 murder of Anil Sharma, an alleged aide of Dawood Ibrahim — marking one of the first judgments since Pujari's extradition from Senegal in 2020.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Massajog sarpanch case: Court schedules June 17 for hearing on Valmik Karad's plea challenging invoking of MCOCA against him
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The special MCOCA court in Beed district has scheduled June 17 for deciding on the plea of Valmik Karad, the key accused in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, challenging the invoking of sections of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him. After attending the hearing on Tuesday morning, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam , who is representing the state in this case, said, "Valmik Karad's lawyers have moved an application challenging the applicability of MCOCA against him. The court has scheduled June 17 as the next date for hearing the arguments on this application. Also, on behalf of the state, we moved an application for confiscating all the movable and immovable assets belonging to Valmik Karad. The lawyers representing him have submitted replies regarding our application before the court today. The argument on our application, too, will be taken up on the next date of hearing." Nikam urged the court to frame charges in the case, stating that there was sufficient evidence against the accused. One of the key issues under consideration is whether the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) can be applied to prime accused Karad. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The court is expected to deliver its decision on the applicability of MCOCA on June 17 after hearing arguments from both prosecution and defence. In a parallel development, the prosecution has moved an application seeking seizure of Karad's movable and immovable properties. Karad's lawyers submitted their response on the matter, which has been scheduled for hearing on June 17. Karad filed a discharge application seeking exemption from charges under MCOCA. His defence team requested the court to prioritise the hearing on the application. The prosecution did not oppose the request, and the court listed the matter for hearing on June 17. Nikam confirmed that Karad is the only accused who filed such a discharge plea. Defence lawyers Vikas Khade and Mohan Yadav told newsprsons after the hearing that the prosecution was yet to share the digital evidence with them. The prosecution, however, informed the court that the electronic evidence would be submitted in a sealed format, after which discussions could be held. While the hearing on the discharge plea was expected on Tuesday, it did not take place. Instead, arguments were heard on several procedural and ancillary applications. The court observed that before addressing the discharge plea, other pending applications should be disposed of. Khade noted that the hearing lasted for nearly 50 minutes. He added that the prosecution has filed applications related to property seizure, and the court has scheduled a consolidated hearing on all pending matters, including the discharge plea and digital evidence, for June 17. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The special MCOCA court in Beed district has scheduled June 17 for deciding on the plea of Valmik Karad, the key accused in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, challenging the invoking of sections of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him. After attending the hearing on Tuesday morning, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who is representing the state in this case, said, "Valmik Karad's lawyers have moved an application challenging the applicability of MCOCA against him. The court has scheduled June 17 as the next date for hearing the arguments on this application. Also, on behalf of the state, we moved an application for confiscating all the movable and immovable assets belonging to Valmik Karad. The lawyers representing him have submitted replies regarding our application before the court today. The argument on our application, too, will be taken up on the next date of hearing." Nikam urged the court to frame charges in the case, stating that there was sufficient evidence against the accused. One of the key issues under consideration is whether the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) can be applied to prime accused Karad. The court is expected to deliver its decision on the applicability of MCOCA on June 17 after hearing arguments from both prosecution and defence. In a parallel development, the prosecution has moved an application seeking seizure of Karad's movable and immovable properties. Karad's lawyers submitted their response on the matter, which has been scheduled for hearing on June 17. Karad filed a discharge application seeking exemption from charges under MCOCA. His defence team requested the court to prioritise the hearing on the application. The prosecution did not oppose the request, and the court listed the matter for hearing on June 17. Nikam confirmed that Karad is the only accused who filed such a discharge plea. Defence lawyers Vikas Khade and Mohan Yadav told newsprsons after the hearing that the prosecution was yet to share the digital evidence with them. The prosecution, however, informed the court that the electronic evidence would be submitted in a sealed format, after which discussions could be held. While the hearing on the discharge plea was expected on Tuesday, it did not take place. Instead, arguments were heard on several procedural and ancillary applications. The court observed that before addressing the discharge plea, other pending applications should be disposed of. Khade noted that the hearing lasted for nearly 50 minutes. He added that the prosecution has filed applications related to property seizure, and the court has scheduled a consolidated hearing on all pending matters, including the discharge plea and digital evidence, for June 17.


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Dissmissed Beed cop Ranjit Kasale booked again for an objectionable post, this time against Fadnavis
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Dismissed sub-inspector Ranjit Kasale, who is already embroiled in several criminal cases, has been slapped with additional charges from the Beed cybercrime branch for allegedly posting derogatory and defamatory content against Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on social media platforms. The latest FIR, registered on Monday, stems from a complaint lodged by BJP IT cell's state co-convenor Sambhaji Surve. The complaint alleges that Kasale published content deemed defamatory to Fadnavis and of an objectionable nature, resulting in police intervention. Police have applied sections 197 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) alongside section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. These new allegations are expected to intensify the legal challenges for the former policeman, who is currently under police detention for a different case. A Mumbai crime branch team recently caught Kasale in Delhi and transported him to Mumbai for questioning. Following his court appearance before a magistrate, he received two days of police custody. This detention concluded on Monday, June 2, after which he appeared before the Fort court. Earlier, Kasale faced arrest for allegedly attempting to create communal discord and making offensive remarks against elected representatives. The current case adds to a growing list of complaints against him. Before these events, police had registered two separate FIRs against Kasale at Beed's Shivajinagar police station and the district's cyber police station, following complaints from social activist Mohan Aghav. Additionally, Kasale faces charges in Mumbai for similar violations involving provocative social media content directed at political figures and communities. According to police sources, Kasale's online activities demonstrate consistent behaviour aimed at causing discord and damaging the reputations of public officials. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Dismissed sub-inspector Ranjit Kasale, who is already embroiled in several criminal cases, has been slapped with additional charges from the Beed cybercrime branch for allegedly posting derogatory and defamatory content against Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on social media platforms. The latest FIR, registered on Monday, stems from a complaint lodged by BJP IT cell's state co-convenor Sambhaji Surve. The complaint alleges that Kasale published content deemed defamatory to Fadnavis and of an objectionable nature, resulting in police intervention. Police have applied sections 197 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) alongside section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. These new allegations are expected to intensify the legal challenges for the former policeman, who is currently under police detention for a different case. A Mumbai crime branch team recently caught Kasale in Delhi and transported him to Mumbai for questioning. Following his court appearance before a magistrate, he received two days of police custody. This detention concluded on Monday, June 2, after which he appeared before the Fort court. Earlier, Kasale faced arrest for allegedly attempting to create communal discord and making offensive remarks against elected representatives. The current case adds to a growing list of complaints against him. Before these events, police had registered two separate FIRs against Kasale at Beed's Shivajinagar police station and the district's cyber police station, following complaints from social activist Mohan Aghav. Additionally, Kasale faces charges in Mumbai for similar violations involving provocative social media content directed at political figures and communities. According to police sources, Kasale's online activities demonstrate consistent behaviour aimed at causing discord and damaging the reputations of public officials.