New Delhi, Dec 20: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two more absconding accused in connection with the abduction and brutal murder of Dinesh Pusu Gawade in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

The wanted accused, both members of the banned CPI (Maoist) terrorist organisation, have been identified as Raghu alias Pratap alias Irpa alias Muddella alias Sailu, a resident of Nizamabad district in Telangana, and Shankar Mahaka, a native of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, respectively.

Gawade, a resident of Laheri village in Bhamragarh taluka of Gadchiroli, was abducted and murdered in November 2023 by CPI (Maoist) cadres on suspicion of being a police informer and having links with the RSS. He had gone to Pengunda village to participate in a sports competition, where he was kidnapped and murdered by the ultras.

According to the investigation, Gawade was killed with a sharp weapon. A note was left at the crime scene by the assailants, accusing the victim of being a police informer. The assailants’ motive behind the killing was spreading terror among local villagers and intimidating them against sharing any information about Maoist activities and movements with security forces.

The NIA had taken over the probe from the Gadchiroli Police in October 2024.

Earlier, the agency had chargesheeted four accused — Doba Wadde, Ravi Pallo, Sattu Mahaka, and Komati Mahaka — over their involvement in the ghastly crime. The charge sheet was filed in January this year – against four CPI (Maoist) members of the CPI (Maoist) for the abduction and murder of Gawade under various provisions of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Investigation is currently underway and the probe agency has stepped up efforts to unearth the entire conspiracy behind the gruesome murder of Dinesh Pusu Gawade.

Mumbai: The Samta Nagar police have registered an FIR against eight persons, and arrested four of them, for allegedly cheating around 180 people by promising them jobs abroad. Two of the arrested persons are women. One of the arrested accused was found in possession of the victims’ passports. Following intervention by MP Piyush Goyal, timely action was taken, resulting in the recovery and return of all the passports to the victims. Most of the victims are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

The accused were running a fake company named ‘Star Man Power’ from Office No 230, Dimple Arcade, Thakur Complex, Kandivali East. The accused have been identified as Devraj Yadav, Ashish Kumar, Verma (first name unknown), Ajan, Ayesha Ansari, Pooja Yadav, Ranjna Kamat, and Kajal Gupta. According to the police, the accused posted advertisements on social media platforms, claiming vacancies for drivers, helpers, fitters, and packing workers in foreign countries.

The accused allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh, depending on the job profile. The accused also conducted fake medical tests, issued fake visas and flight tickets, and retained nearly 180 passports. Payments were collected both in cash and through online transfers into multiple bank accounts. The complainant, Mahesh Chauhan, 25, stated that he visited the office of the accused in November, where his passport was taken, and he was assured a job in Russia.

He was asked to pay Rs 75,000 and initially paid Rs35,000. On November 11, when he visited the office to collect his passport and flight ticket, the office was closed. After waiting for several hours, he noticed more than 100 people gathered outside the office. Soon, they realised that everyone had come to collect their passports and tickets. Some victims had even been given fake visas and flight tickets. When the victims attempted to contact the main accused, Devraj Yadav, they found his mobile phone switched off.

The phones of the other accused were also unreachable. The victims then approached the police and filed a complaint. Based on this, the police registered a case on December 3 under Sections 318(4) (cheating), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The victims alleged that while the police registered the case promptly, action took time. Subsequently, they approached the BJP office in Kandivali West and also contacted the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Reacting to the incident, MP and Union minister Piyush Goyal stated, “Safeguarding the interests, dignity and future of India’s youth remains a key priority of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Any individual or racket that exploits the dreams of young citizens will face strict and prompt action.” He added that in this case, swift police action, recovery of passports and relief to the affected victims is a matter of satisfaction.

Mumbai: A special court for the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has sentenced two men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 17 lakh after they were held guilty of robbery and extortion of an elderly couple in Dahisar.

As per the prosecution’s case, in January 2001, the accused Maru Kunchikorve, a habitual offender, along with his accomplice Sunny Singh, came on a scooter and assaulted the victim and demanded Rs 15,000 at swordpoint. Singh also threatened to kill the man’s wife if he failed to pay him.

According to the man, the accused snatched his wife’s mangalsutra and also the bag containing cash. They were later arrested and booked under the stringent provisions of MCOCA based on several previous cases lodged against them.