Pimpri, 12th December 2025: In a significant pre-election crackdown, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against four active criminal syndicates, including the gang allegedly led by absconding former corporator Kisan тАШMaharajтАЩ Tapkir. Tapkir is wanted in connection with the murder of businessman Nitin Gilbile in Charholi, a case that has intensified policing efforts in the region ahead of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections.
Police said Gilbile was shot dead following an economic dispute, and six members of the gang have already been arrested. Tapkir, identified as the key conspirator in the killing, continues to evade arrest. Following a proposal submitted by Dighi Police, MCOCA has now been applied to all seven accused, who collectively face multiple serious criminal cases. Those charged include gang leader Amit Jivan Pathare (33), Vikrant Suresh Thakur (38), Sumit Fulchand Patel (31), Akash Somanath Pathare (23), and Somnath Prakash Patole (24), along with Tapkir.
MCOCA has also been invoked against three additional gangs operating in different parts of the city. In the first case, Dighi Police secured approval to prosecute the gang led by Vikrant alias Sarda Devkule (24), whose associates тАФ including Suraj Chavan (20), Sahil alias Vishwas Lot (19), and Shubham Dingiya (24) тАФ are linked to seven major offences.
In Chikhali, authorities have registered an organised crime case against notorious criminal Aniruddha тАШVickyтАЩ Jadhav and ten associates, along with five minors. The accused тАФ including Sohan Chandelia (23), Pradyuman Jawalge (25), Yash alias Gondya Khandagale (21), Abhishek alias Bakasur Pawar (22), Shubham Chavan (30), Aniket Barathe (27), Ashwin Gaikwad (21), and Yashpalsingh Devda (19) тАФ are linked to at least 15 serious offences ranging from violent assaults to illegal possession of weapons.
Another gang led by Rahul Appasaheb Lohar (27) from Uruli Kanchan has also come under the scanner. Lohar and his associates тАФ Hrutik Gaikwad (24), Akash Gaikwad (24), Ganesh Wahile (23), and Shivtej Thakare (24), are accused in ten serious cases involving attempted murder, armed robbery, assault, and illegal weapons.
The four gangs collectively have cases registered across more than 18 police station jurisdictions, including Chikhali, Nigdi, Hinjawadi, Wakad, Bhosari MIDC, Dighi, Sangvi, Vishrantwadi, Khadki, Kondhwa, Uttamnagar and Dehuroad. The offences span a wide spectrum of organised crime activities such as murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping, armed theft, vandalism, rioting, and violent attacks.
Police said that in the current year alone, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have invoked MCOCA against 179 criminals across 35 gangs, signalling an intensified campaign to curb organised crime ahead of the civic elections.
The post Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Invoke MCOCA Against Four Criminal Gangs Ahead of Civic Elections; Former Corporator Among Accused appeared first on Punekar News.
