**Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Detain Nine Members of Ravan Gang Preparing Jewellery Shop Burglary**
In a significant preventive action, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police’s Crime Branch detained nine members of the notorious Ravan Gang on Wednesday night. The gangsters were caught while preparing to strike a jewellery shop for burglary in the Chikhali Patil Nagar area.
**Swift Police Action**
The Crime Branch received a tip-off early Wednesday morning about suspicious men in cars around Chikhali Patil Nagar. Acting swiftly, officers laid a trap and detained nine individuals. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to planning the heist. Police seized multiple pistols, koytas (sharp weapons), chilli powder, bamboo sticks, and ropes from them.
The operation was led by the Anti-Gunda Squad under the supervision of DCP (Crime) Dr. Shivaji Pawar, ACP (Crime 1) Dr. Vishal Hire, and API Harish Mane.
**Arrested Individuals**
The following gang members were detained:
– Anirudha aka Balya aka Vicky Raju Jadhav (29, Ravet)
– Abhishek aka Bakasur Chimaji Pawar (22, Walhekarwadi)
– Yash aka Gondya Akash Khandagale (21, Nigdi)
– Shubham Gorakhnath Chavan (30, Akurdi)
– Pradyuman Rajkumar Javalge (25, Chakan)
– Sohan Raju Chandeliya (23, Ravet)
– Three minors
DCP Dr. Pawar stated, “A case has been registered against them. The prime accused Anirudha Jadhav is a notorious criminal with a previous MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) case registered. He has 10 cases of serious crimes registered across Maharashtra. Other members, including Yash Khandagale, Sohan Chandeliya (externed from Pune District), and Abhishek Pawar, also have criminal records.”
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### What Is the Ravan Gang?
Police reports indicate that the Ravan Gang was formed around a decade ago, with criminal cases against members surfacing in the late 2010s. Initially, the gang operated mainly in Dehu Road, Nigdi, and Akurdi areas but gradually expanded across Pimpri-Chinchwad city and nearby rural regions.
The gang’s first known leader was Aniket Jadhav, aged 22, a notorious criminal with 10 serious offences. He was killed in 2017 by members of the rival Mahakal Gang. Following his death, Sagar aka Dashrath Waghmode assumed leadership.
Despite actions by the Pune Police Commissionerate, which included filing cases under MCOCA and other preventive measures, the gang remained active until 2019. The formation of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC) marked a turning point. Waghmode was arrested in July 2019 by Nigdi Police near Akurdi Police Station, and six more gang members were arrested in August 2019. Since then, gang activities significantly declined.
Though occasional arrests of potential gang members made the news, there was little evidence of organised crime until recently.
The Ravan Gang is known for committing murders, attempted murders, extortion, kidnapping, and robberies.
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### Why Has the Gang Become Active Again?
Since 2022, the gang has been rising in prominence again due to increased social media activity, especially involving minors and young adults. Violence and robbery incidents attributed to the gang have surged, with accused individuals claiming affiliation to the Ravan Gang.
A senior police official commented, “The gang was previously active only on social media. The police have taken strict action against members committing serious crimes. However, recently their incidents are being reported again.”
Experts and local journalists suggest a possible link to upcoming Local Bodies Elections. Opportunistic candidates may seek to assert dominance through criminal gangs like the Ravan Gang to sway voters, thereby increasing the gang’s activity.
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### Recent Notable Cases Involving the Ravan Gang
– **April 2021:** Two men claiming to be Ravan Gang members were arrested for raping a 14-year-old girl and extorting money and jewellery from her. They were charged under the POCSO Act and applicable IPC sections.
– **October 2021:** Four members were arrested for attempted murder and extortion in Karad and Satara. All four were booked under MCOCA by Karad Police.
– **January 2022:** The gang’s social media activity escalated, targeting conflicted minors and young adults, glamorising crime as ‘cool’.
– **August 2025:** A builder, son of a former NCP corporator, received extortion demands of Rs 1 lakh per month from a man claiming to be a Ravan Gang member. This incident marked the emergence of possible political motives behind gang activities.
– **September 2025:** The latest arrests in Chikhali Patil Nagar involved gang members preparing for a jewellery shop heist. Firearms, sharp weapons, vehicles, and robbery tools were seized.
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The Pimpri-Chinchwad Police continue to monitor and take strict action against the Ravan Gang to curb their criminal activities and prevent disturbance in the area.
*For further updates, stay tuned.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/pune-9-ravan-gang-members-detained-while-planning-jewellery-shop-heist-in-pimpri-chinchwad-who-are-they-why-are-they-active-again-after-years-of-silence
