Mumbai: Thief busted after 1.5 km chase on foot in Bhandup

Chased for 1.5 km in the dark, nabbed at 3.30 am near Tembhi Pada, in Bhandup. Six more cases opened during interrogation

On April 29, the Bhandup police arrested a man who had been absconding in multiple house-breaking cases. The accused was caught after a dramatic chase of nearly one and a half kilometres in the early hours of the morning. Police said that nine cases have already been registered against him.

According to officials, the case came to light on March 27 when complainant Ruchira Rane, 31, approached the police. "She reported that an unknown person had broken into her residence near Tembhi Pada in Bhandup and stolen Rs 25,000 in cash and a gold chain worth Rs 3000," an officer said.

How cops nabbed the thief: After the FIR was registered on March 27; the accused fled to Shirdi disguised as a Sai palkhi pilgrim. Illustrations/Uday Mohite

Under the guidance of Zone 7 DCP Vijaykant Sagar, a team of five policemen was formed to track down the accused. "We scanned through 30-40 CCTV footages and managed to identify the suspect. When we went to his house, he was missing and his phone was unreachable. During interrogation, he later confessed to disguising himself as a participant in a Sai palkhi and fleeing to Shirdi," a police official added.

30-40 CCTVs reviewed to trace his movements, cops reached his residence, but he was missing

On April 29, around 3 am, during routine night patrol (bandobast), the police noticed a suspicious man hiding in a narrow lane in Bhandup. "When he spotted us, he fled. It was pitch dark, and the area had several lanes. A team of five policemen gave chase for nearly 1.5 km. He was finally nabbed around 3.30 am," an officer said.

Spotted at 3 am on April 29, hiding in a dark lane; fled when he saw police

The accused was identified as Ravi Rameshwar alias Ramdvar Chauhan, 39. "He confessed to his involvement in multiple theft cases. So far, nine cases have been traced to him. We are now trying to recover the stolen cash. He's a repeat offender and is not cooperating," the police said.

The accused was identified as Ravi Rameshwar alias Ramdvar Chauhan. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Police Sub-Inspector Ganesh Sanap, Head Constables Dipak Lahane and Jaywant More, and Constables Shrikant Mali and Vikas Ippar were part of the team that chased Chauhan for over 30 minutes. "The accused tried to escape, but the team's persistence paid off. FIRs have been registered against him at Bhandup, Vakola, Juhu and Bandra railway police stations," said Senior PI Dattatray Khandagle of Bhandup police station.

The Bhandup police have booked Ravi Rameshwar under Sections 331 (house-breaking and trespass) and 305 (theft in a dwelling house) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Vikhroli, which remanded him to police custody. Investigations into his previous cases are underway.