13-05-2025
Beed gang linked to sarpanch murder accused booked under MCOCA for violent robbery
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Police have invoked the stringent
(MCOCA) provisions against a criminal gang linked to
, a key accused in the kidnapping-murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, as part of a major crackdown on
in gang, allegedly led by Raghunath Ramrao Phad, is linked to 10 cases involving violent crimes and property offences across Beed and neighbouring areas, including attempted murder, assault, robbery and obstructing govt superintendent of police Navneet Kanwat said the action was taken after a complaint from Sahadev Satbhai (28) of Tadoli in Parli taluka, who was brutally attacked and robbed by the gang.
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"According to the complainant, he was on way to the Parli tehsildar's office with Rs 2.7 lakh when he was intercepted near Jalalpur Road by a group of assailants led by Phad," the SP said the attackers allegedly pulled him off his two-wheeler, assaulted him with iron rods and sticks, fracturing his leg, and stole his money and cellphone. Before fleeing in a white SUV, they issued death threats to him, the SP said, citing the Beed police arrested Phad on March 7. Four more accused in the case, Jagannath Vikram Phad, Sudip Sonawane, Balaji DahiPhale and Vilas Gite, were nabbed on March 28. Two other accused, Dhanraj alias Rajebhau Phad and Gyandev alias Gotya Gitte, are still absconding, the police to the police, investigations in the case revealed the gang's involvement in multiple cases in Parli, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and the proposal to invoke MCOCA provisions against the gang was submitted on April 29, which was reviewed and recommended by SP Kanwat and was cleared by Special IG Virendra Mishra on May 7. Subsequently, SP Kanwat transferred the investigation to deputy SP Anil Chormale, with relevant MCOCA sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2), and 3(4) added to the Kanwat said strict action under MCOCA would continue against habitual offenders and organised criminal groups in the district. "We are exploring all the options available for initiating stringent action against those posing a challenge to peace and harmony in the district," Kanwat added.
