Gang of ATM robbers busted

Mumbai, Oct 18 (UNI) A notorious robber, against whom 300 offences have been registered, in the metropolis was arrested along with his four associates for allegedly committing a robbery.

Speaking to mediapersons, Additional Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Seth said the accused Shashikant Chandrakant Kolwalkar alias Babu (49) had committed 300 offences of robbery, out of which he was convicted by court in 65 cases. Other accused are Ajit Shivaji More, Subbarao Channappa Patil alias Bala Patil, Pandurang Sminder Waghmare and Tamesh Chimanlal Gandhi.

Talking about the modus operandi of the gang, Mr Seth said they used to travel in a taxi, overtake a private vehicle, forcibly enter the vehicle and take the victim to an ATM centre. One of the gang members went to the ATM centre after forcibly obtaining the password of the card of the victim and withdrew money.

During interrogation, the accused persons admitted that they had committed seven crimes in Azad Maidan, Vile Parle, Mahim, Goregaon and Tardeo.

Accused Kolwakar was arrested in connection with credit cards crime committed in 1998 in the juridication of Tardeo police station.

All the accused were produced before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S Y Shisode, who remanded them to police custody till October 26, he added.

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