Pune: Gangster Gaja Marne’s Right-Hand Man Pandya Mohite Arrested by Police; Shouted Slogans in Jail with Supporters
Pune: The Crime Branch has arrested Balakrishna alias Pandya Laxman Mohite (age 40, resident of Sitaram Nagar, Sangli), the close aide of notorious gangster Gaja Marne, from Sangli. Mohite had gathered 15–20 supporters and visited the Sangli prison to meet Marne, shouting slogans in his support.
Gaja Marne was recently transferred from Yerwada Jail to Sangli Jail due to security concerns, as there was no space available in Yerwada’s high-security Anda Cell. During the transfer, the police van was stopped at Kanse Dhaba near Satara, where supporters, following the van in Thar and other vehicles, intercepted the convoy.
At the dhaba, Satish Sudhakar Shilimkar climbed into the police van and handed Marne medicines and tablets, while another supporter, Vishal Shivaji Dhumal, served him a mutton meal. Reports also revealed that Marne received ₹50,000 during the journey. These events were captured in CCTV footage, bringing the matter to light.
These individuals ensured all logistical arrangements for Marne’s gang members and assisted him until his associates reached the jail. As a result, all three have now been booked under the same case registered in Kothrud, where Gaja Marne and his aides were charged under MCOCA for assaulting an IT engineer.
Following technical analysis, Pandya Mohite was arrested on May 14 in Sangli and presented before the MCOCA court. Police argued that he provided financial and other assistance to Marne and that further investigation is required to trace other gang members and seize the vehicles used to follow the police van. The court has remanded Mohite to police custody until May 17.
This action was executed under the supervision of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint CP Ranjankumar Sharma, Addl. CP Shailesh Balkawade, DCP Nikhil Pingale, ACPs Ganesh Ingle and Rajendra Mulik, and by the Crime Branch team including PI Pratap Mankar, API Ashish Kavathekar, and officers Mokashi and Kumbhar.
