3 days ago
To avenge insult, Sambhajinagar industrialist Ladda's close friend & employee tipped off dacoits about valuables and cash at his bungalow: Police
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Police investigations revealed a significant development in the armed dacoity case at industrialist Santosh Ladda's residence on May 15.
Police said Balasaheb Ingole (46), Ladda's trusted employee and friend of 20 years, provided crucial information about valuables and cash at the bungalow, along with details of Ladda's USA trip for his son's convocation ceremony, seeking revenge for a perceived insult.
He was arrested on Saturday.
Police have caught 10 suspects: Yogesh Hajbe (31) from Wadgaon Kolhati, Suresh alias Suryakant Gangne (45) from Beed, Syed Azharuddin (37) from Ranjangaon, Sohel Shaikh (22) from Beed, and Mahendra Bidve (38) from Sajapur. Amol Khotkar, a primary orchestrator of the dacoity, died in an encounter between Monday and Tuesday. The court granted police custody for these suspects until June 10.
Additional arrests included Devidas Shinde (45) from Wadgaon Kolhati on Friday, followed by Ingole, Mahesh Gorade (26), Ganesh Gorade (22), and Ajinath Jadhav (23) on Saturday.
These individuals remain in police custody until June 6.
The perpetrators absconded with 5.5 kg of gold, 32 kg of silver, and Rs 70,000 in cash. The crime branch and MIDC Waluj police teams recovered only 32gm of gold jewellery.
Police commissioner Pravin Pawar told TOI, "We were able to trace the reverse linkage in this case and found that to avenge an 'insult' by Ladda, Ingole tipped off the criminals on Ladda's foreign tour and the large amount of valuables and cash stashed in the bungalow."
Investigations showed that Ingole joined Ladda's manufacturing unit in 2006, becoming both an employee and confidant, assisting with household matters. This position granted him extensive knowledge and access to the household.
Deputy commissioner of police (Crime) Prashant Swami said Ladda had reprimanded Ingole in Dec 2024 for alleged inappropriate behaviour while intoxicated. "Ingole took this insult to heart and decided to teach Ladda a lesson, and found the opportunity when the Ladda family planned a tour to the USA from May 7 to 22," said Swami.
Further investigation revealed that Ingole shared information with Ajinath Jadhav, who informed Ganesh Gorade, an employee at Mahesh Gorade's medical store. Mahesh relayed this to Devidas Shinde, who contacted Yogesh Hajbe, a known criminal. Hajbe assembled the group, including Khotkar, at his lodge to plan the armed dacoity. Shinde and Hajbe conducted surveillance of the bungalow.
Police have now seized both the moped and the car used in the crime.
