Pune Gangland: Pune Police Targets 100 Gangs with MCOCA Over 18 Months: Amitabh Gupta’s Directive
By India Crime Correspondent
Pune, 7th October 2022
Over the course of the past one and a half years, Pune’s Police Commissioner, Amitabh Gupta, has embarked on an unrelenting campaign against the menace of organized crime. With actions spanning 100 separate gangs comprising 670 individuals, his proactive stance seeks to curb the reign of terror and deceit that these groups have imposed upon innocent citizens. The weapon of choice for these interventions has been the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MOCCA).
Milestone: 100th Case Registered
The most recent milestone in this relentless pursuit of justice comes in the form of the 100th case under MOCCA. Dhiraj Bharat Punekar (36), hailing from Solapur, and his accomplices numbering eight, have been registered under this case by the cyber police station.
Their charge: perpetrating fraudulent activities through a loan application. This latest case has unearthed a widespread cheating scheme that has affected a staggering 5,000 individuals in the city and district over the past three years.
Tragically, the misuse of the loan app even drove a young individual to take his own life.
Swift Action Against App-based Fraud
In response to this growing crisis, Commissioner Gupta issued directives to the cyber police, instructing them to adopt an uncompromising stance against the gangs exploiting the loan app for illicit gains.
The cyber police wasted no time, orchestrating a comprehensive operation spanning Bengaluru, Solapur, and Pune.
This initiative culminated in the apprehension of 18 suspects, alongside a raid on a Bengaluru-based gang’s call center.
National Implications of App Scams
The fraudulent activities conducted through the loan app had far-reaching implications, impacting citizens across the nation.
The victims were subjected to not only financial loss but also emotional distress, as the perpetrators exploited their vulnerability.
Commissioner Gupta underscored the gravity of the situation during a press conference, announcing that MCOCA measures had been invoked against the gang involved.
Unified Efforts for Justice
The pursuit of justice against these organized crime networks has united law enforcement officials across various echelons.
Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik, Additional Commissioner Ramnath Pokale, Dr. Jalindar Supekar, DCP (Cyber Crime) Bhagyashree Navtakke, DCP (Crime) Srinivas Ghadge, and other key figures have rallied together to support these measures.
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