Navi Mumbai: Crime branch central unit team has arrested three men from the nine-member gang of dacoits, who had posed as cops and robbed a Sangli based sugar trader of Rs 13.2 lakhs cash in Kharghar on Jan 12.SI Sunil Shinde said that Vishal Tupe (35) from Ghansoli, Rohit Shelar (26) from Satara and Manoj Bhandari (37) from Kalyan were arrested from Ghansoli and Belapur on Jan 26 and 27. In Sept last year, the complainant, Manish Shinde (56), was approached by the accused for purchasing gold at discounted prices. The deal was initially fixed for 100 grams, and the accused suggested Shinde to carry cash in case there were issues with digital payment. Around 5.30 pm on Jan 6, six unidentified men arrived at the spot in a MUV, posing as cops, and claimed it was a raid for carrying unaccounted cash. The accused assaulted Shinde with a baton and snatched his cash. As Shinde realised the dacoity was pre-planned, he later registered an FIR at Kharghar police station.Inspector Shinde added, “There are six criminal cases registered against Tupe from 2020 till 2023 at Govandi, Sanpada, Panvel City, Vikhroli, Bhiwandi and Kharghar police stations.”
