Pune: The Shivajinagar Court has remanded notorious gangster Gaja Marne to police custody until March 3 after he was arrested along with five associates for allegedly assaulting Devendra Jog, a supporter of Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol. The Pune Police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Marne and his gang members.

Courtroom Drama

During the hearing, Marne’s lawyer argued that his client was being unfairly targeted. He claimed that Marne was forced to sit cross-legged on the floor during custody, and his photo was deliberately leaked on social media. The defense also questioned the applicability of Section 307 (attempt to murder) in the case, stating that there was no direct evidence or audio recording proving that Marne had ordered the attack.

"The police are working under pressure. The remand copy does not contain any mention of 'kill that man.' How can Section 307 be applied when the victim only suffered a nasal fracture?" the lawyer contended. He further demanded that the prosecution present CCTV footage or an audio clip proving Marne's involvement.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ganesh Ingle countered the defense's claims, stating that Marne has 28 criminal cases registered against him and is a known threat in Pune. He emphasized that police custody is crucial for further investigation, particularly for analyzing CCTV footage and gathering additional evidence.

Following arguments from both sides, the Shivajinagar Court ruled in favor of police custody, extending Marne’s remand until March 3.