Pune, July 14: Six members of an interstate criminal gang who were preparing to commit a dacoity were arrested in an operation by a joint team of the Pune Rural Police’s Local Crime Branch and the Otur Police Station, officials said on Tuesday.

During the operation, police seized weapons, ammunition, a stolen vehicle and other items collectively valued at Rs 14.87 lakh.

Officials said interrogation of the accused led to the detection of 20 serious criminal cases across Maharashtra and Telangana, while the six accused are collectively linked to more than 50 criminal cases registered in different states.

According to the police, a jeep, which had been stolen from the Loni Pravara area of Ahilyanagar district, was spotted in Kolwadi village of Junnar taluka on the morning of July 12.

During the search for the stolen vehicle, Vignesh Subhash Gholap, a relative of the owner, confronted a group of suspicious individuals.

Police said an argument broke out between Gholap and the suspects. When he raised an alarm by shouting “Thief! Thief!”, local villagers rushed to the spot and confronted the accused. With the help of the villagers, two of the accused were caught at the scene, while the remaining four managed to flee.

After receiving information about the incident, teams from the Local Crime Branch and Otur Police Station immediately reached the area. With assistance from local residents and Police Patils of Aalme, Ballalwadi, Kolwadi and Dingore villages, an extensive search operation was launched across the surrounding hills and valleys.

Officials said the search operation continued for nearly six hours, after which the remaining four absconding accused were also traced and arrested, completing the operation successfully.

The accused have been identified as Sonusingh Kapursingh Tak (30), Jilusingh Shersingh Dudhani (40), Karansingh Gagansingh Tak (27), Pankajsingh Kalusingh Shikalgar alias Dudhani (40), Papisingh alias Krishnasingh Sahebsingh Tak (18), and Mangalsingh Mayasingh Dudhani (58).

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to their involvement in 20 criminal cases registered in Maharashtra and Telangana.

According to police, these include two cases of dacoity, one case of attempted dacoity, two robbery cases, 13 housebreaking cases and two vehicle theft cases.

As part of the operation, police recovered property and equipment worth Rs 14,87,820.

The seizure included a country-made pistol, live cartridges, other sharp-edged weapons, the stolen jeep and several other articles believed to have been used in criminal activities.

According to the Pune Rural Police, the six accused already have more than 50 serious criminal cases registered against them in Maharashtra, Telangana and other states.

Officials said all the accused will be produced before the court, where police custody will be sought to facilitate further investigation into the gang’s activities and possible involvement in other crimes.

Mumbai, July 14: Adani Electricity’s anti-theft drive has succeeded in significantly reducing its Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses to 4.46 per cent in FY 2025-26 from 4.7 per cent in the previous year, which positions it among the Discoms with the lowest AT&C losses nationwide, according to a company statement issued on Tuesday.

This significant reduction of 0.24 per cent in AT&C losses across Adani Electricity’s extensive network will lower the burden on honest, paying consumers, the statement said.

Adani Electricity conducted 36,720 mass raids during the financial year 2025-2026 and registered 486 First Information Reports (FIRs) against perpetrators of power theft. This intensified vigilance also reflects a 40 per cent increase in odd-timing raids which include early morning, late evening and holidays.

Additionally, 5897 power theft cases were booked. During raids, 79.25 tons of illegal wires were recovered. A total theft of 19.82 million units — amounting to Rs 43.39 crore — was assessed, according to the statement.

The important cases include the successful detection and booking of a high-value electricity theft case of Rs 1.63 crore involving direct supply for moulding activity at Swastik Compound, Chincholi Bandar Road, Malad (West) on 7th November 2025, by the company’s vigilance team.

Similarly, on 4th July 2025 another high-value electricity theft case of Rs 80 lacs was booked involving direct supply for moulding activity at Motilal Nagar, Goregaon (West).

Besides, a case involving electricity theft to the tune of Rs 48.73 lakh was booked in June involving direct supply for moulding activity at Malad (East).

Stealing electricity is a non-bailable offence. Under Section 135 of the Electricity Act 2003, an offender can be punished with a fine, a jail term of up to three years, or both, once proven guilty.

Adani Electricity actively collaborates with police authorities to conduct regular mass raids, apprehend offenders, and confiscate equipment used for power theft. During FY 2025-26, a significant amount of 79.25 tons of unauthorized wires and other equipment were seized, the statement said.

Power theft in high-demand areas like slum clusters, where new network development is challenging due to space constraints, severely overloads the existing infrastructure.

This strain increases maintenance costs due to more frequent cable and transformer failures.

An Adani Electricity spokesperson said, “Power theft unfairly burdens honest, paying consumers. Adani Electricity is committed to eliminating the menace of power theft. By combating such unlawful activities, we safeguard the interests of our customers. We will intensify our efforts in specific areas to further reduce AT&C losses this year.”

“The significant reduction in AT&C losses this year is a direct result of our intensified efforts against power theft. This not only safeguards our infrastructure but also alleviates the financial burden on our honest, paying consumers by enabling us to maintain competitive tariffs,” he added.

Navi Mumbai Police solved a nearly 11-month-old blind murder case in Airoli’s Yadav Nagar, arresting a woman and her alleged lover in connection with the killing of her husband.

The accused have been identified as Sunita Kushwah (40), wife of the deceased, and Rahul Dashrath Prajapati (30), a rickshaw driver from Ghansoli. The victim has been identified as Baliram Suryanath Kushwah (50).

According to police, Sunita and Rahul allegedly planned the murder after Baliram objected to their relationship. Police said the accused allegedly killed Baliram at his residence and later attempted to conceal the crime by chopping his body into pieces and disposing of his remains in a forest area.

Speaking about the investigation, Senior Police Inspector Devidas Kathole of Rabale MIDC Police Station said that the case was a blind murder as there was no direct evidence initially. During the investigation, technical evidence, call detail records (CDR) and interrogation of the suspects helped the police uncover the conspiracy, he said.

Police said Baliram lived in Yadav Nagar with his wife and two children. During this period, Sunita allegedly developed a relationship with Rahul. After Baliram became aware of the relationship and opposed it, police alleged that the two accused decided to eliminate the obstacle.

Investigators said the children were sent to relatives before the alleged crime took place on August 9, 2025. Police said Baliram was allegedly killed at home, following which efforts were made to hide evidence and mislead the family.

After the incident, Sunita allegedly rented out the Yadav Nagar house and moved with her children to Rahul’s residence in Ghansoli. Police said she allegedly told relatives for several months that Baliram had left the house.

The case came to light after a missing persons complaint was registered at Rabale MIDC Police Station in April 2026. During the investigation, police found that both accused had changed their mobile phones and SIM cards. However, technical evidence, call records and discrepancies in their statements helped investigators trace their involvement.

Police said during questioning, both accused allegedly revealed details of the crime. Based on their information, teams have started searching the Gawli Dev hill area for further evidence.

The court has sent both accused to seven days of police custody. Further investigation in the case is underway.