Man recently released from jail held for robbery on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway

The Palghar Crime Branch in Maharashtra has arrested a 29-year-old man who was released from jail just a month ago and was allegedly involved in a robbery on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway near Talasari on 20 April, a police official said on Tuesday.

The accused intercepted a businessman on the highway, robbed him, and later abandoned him at the Kalyan bypass road, he said, adding that the Crime Branch team recovered the stolen car and gold valuables.

The accused was identified as Vishal Dattatray Tandle (29), a resident of Manchar in Pune, was allegedly involved in a total of 27 theft and robbery cases across Maharashtra, the police said.

The victim, a 38-year-old businessman, is a resident of Wada in Palghar, police said.

According to police officials, the incident occurred around 12:30 pm at Uplat Kalbatpada in Talasari on 20 April. The victim had parked his car on the side of the road and went to use the washroom. Upon returning, three individuals on a motorcycle arrived, blocked his car, kidnapped him in his own vehicle, and assaulted him.

A Crime Branch officer said, “Inside the car, they snatched all his jewellery, including a gold chain, gold rings, and cash — amounting to a total of ₹3.13 lakh — along with the car itself. Around 6:30 p.m., they left the victim on the Kalyan bypass road. The victim immediately contacted the police and filed an FIR at Talasari Police Station.”

Under the guidance of SP Balasaheb Patil, the Crime Branch team reviewed CCTV footage and found that three suspects had arrived on a motorcycle from the Gujarat side towards Talasari on the highway. The motorcycle’s number plate was recorded and traced to a stolen vehicle from Nashik, where a related FIR had already been filed by the Nashik Road Police.

A Crime Branch officer further stated, “CCTV footage showed the stolen car moving through Shahpur, Malshej Ghat, Junnar, and Pune. We searched areas including Manchar, Narayan Nagar, and Ahilyanagar and successfully identified the accused. Tandle was arrested from Manchar in Pune, and we also recovered the stolen car.”

During the investigation, the accused revealed that the car was stolen for a contract killing (supari) in Pune. Tandle had been released from jail only a month prior. Police also discovered that he had previously been arrested by police stations in Pune Railway, Shikrapur, Chakan, Khed, Hinjewadi, Alephata, Gevrai (Beed), Karjat, Ojhar, Govandi, Ahmednagar, Sangamner City, and Nashik Road.

This article first appeared on Mid Day