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.

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.

Ayodhya, July 13: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday invited applications from eligible candidates for the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the temple as the controversy surrounding the donation irregularities deepens.

The selected candidate will be responsible for heading the temple’s administrative management and supervising its day-to-day functioning.

According to the notification issued by the Trust, interested and eligible candidates must submit their applications by 4 p.m. on July 18. The recruitment process has been initiated after a selection committee finalised the eligibility criteria and other conditions for the appointment.

As per the prescribed qualifications, applicants must hold a graduate degree and possess a minimum of 20 years of experience in administration or finance.

The Trust has also stated that preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in temple administration or management. In addition, applicants are required to be followers of the Hindu faith.

The recruitment process comes at a time when the Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on petitions seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations made to the Ram Temple.

The apex court has also directed the Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit a status report and disclose the composition of the investigating team.

According to the Trust, the selected Chief Executive Officer will initially be appointed for a period of three years.

The successful candidate will also be required to reside in Ayodhya throughout the tenure to effectively oversee the temple’s administrative and operational responsibilities.

The selection committee has additionally decided to appoint a Secretary to assist in carrying out the recruitment process and facilitate the appointment of the new Chief Executive Officer.

The development assumes significance in view of the ongoing controversy relating to the alleged embezzlement of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Earlier on Sunday, in an interview with media, Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Misra hoped that the new arrangement at the Ram Mandir, including the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer answerable to the temple trust, will continue to focus on the welfare of devotees who have shown no signs of ‘distrust’ in the system.

Misra indicated that it was time to add another layer to strengthen the system for preventing a recurrence of the regrettable donation row. He said the CEO will look into the entire state of affairs, seeking advice from the general secretary and mandate from the trust, with no scope for government interference.

“The CEO will be an additional link in the system. The hierarchy of the existing system is not being disturbed. The trust is supreme, and its decisions will be final,” said Misra over the work profile and powers of an official.