BSc student arrested for robberies on ARAI hills

PUNE: A 21-year-old BSc student has been arrested for robbing couples and amateur photographers on ARAI (Vetal) Hill after threatening them with an air pistol.
The suspect, Kishore Panjabrao Wadekar, from Wadarwadi was caught while trying to sell a digital camera and two cellphones that he had robbed within half-an-hour on September 9. Wadekar's accomplice Roshan Pawar of Wadarwadi is on the run.
Both victims, one a 26-year-old law student and the other a 16-year-old junior college student, had approached the Chatushrungi police to lodge their complaints, but had been told to come with receipts of their valuables robbed on the hill."The victims did not return to the police station and the offences were not registered at that time," a crime branch officer said.
An officer from the Chatushrungi police station said the victims' names and addresses were with them. "When we arrested the suspect, we contacted them and took their first information reports (FIRs)," he added.
Deputy commissioner of police (crime) P R Patil said Chetan Gore, a police constable attached to the anti-dacoity cell of the crime branch, received a tip-off about Wadekar and that he would be selling the booty at Patil Estate in Shivajinagar.
"A team led by inspector Rajendra Kadam laid a trap at Patil Estate and took Wadekar into custody on Tuesday," Patil said.
During sustained interrogation, Wadekar admitted to the crime. "We have recovered a digital camera, two cellphones and an air pistol collectively worth Rs 65,500 from him," Patil said. Police suspect he may be involved in more robberies on the hills. "Our probe is on," Patil said.
Robbery cases
Inspector Kadam said on September 9, law student Hamraj Singh (26) of Bavdhan and his friend had gone for a stroll to the ARAI hills. Around 2.30pm, Wadekar and his accomplice stopped and threatened them with the air pistol and robbed their cellphones and an MP-3 player collectively worth Rs 52,000, Kadam said.
Within half-an-hour, they duo spotted photographer Siddharth Apte of Karvenagar clicking photos on the hillock along with his school friend. "Wadekar threatened Apte and his friend with the pistol and asked them to handover their valuables," Kadam said.
Kadam said Apte's friend fled the spot. Wadekar robbed Apte of his digital camera and cellphone collectively worth Rs 48,000 and fled, Kadam said. "Wadekar and his accomplice may have robbed many couples. Out of fear, the couples may have not approached the police," Kadam added.
Suspect pursuing studies
Wadekar is a first-year BSc student of a city-based private college.
"He does not have any previous criminal record," Kadam said. Prima facie investigations showed that Wadekar started committing robberies under the influence of his friend, who is a criminal. "We have launched a manhunt for him," Kadam said.