Pune: A truck driver was nearly robbed of ₹2.5 lakh by two women on the Solapur-Pune Highway, but thanks to the quick response of local residents and Indapur Police, the crime was prevented in time. The police have arrested two women from Solapur district, and a case has been registered at Indapur Police Station.

According to Sartaj Chand Sayyed (40, resident of Somatane Phata, Talegaon Dabhade, Maval Taluka), he was returning to Pune after delivering goods in Karkamb (Solapur district). On Friday, February 21, around 3 PM, while driving his tempo (MH 14 KQ 3207) near the Tembhurni bypass, two women signaled him to stop and requested a ride to Bhigwan. Unaware of their intentions, Sayyed allowed them to board the vehicle.

After covering some distance, near the Sardewadi toll plaza in Indapur Taluka, the women suddenly threatened Sayyed, saying: "Hand over all your cash and valuables, or we will accuse you of molestation."

Sayyed, fearing legal trouble, stopped the vehicle, at which point the women pushed him and grabbed cash from his truck’s compartment. They then attempted to escape.

As the women fled, Sayyed jumped out of his truck and raised an alarm, shouting ‘Thief! Thief!’. Local residents quickly gathered and caught the two suspects. A bystander, Ajinkya Javeer from Indapur, immediately called the police, who arrived promptly and took the suspects into custody.

Upon investigation, the police identified the suspects as: Rani Sikandar Shinde (41) and Swati Vasant Shinde (24), (both residents of Morvanchi, Mohol Taluka, Solapur District). A search of their belongings led to the recovery of ₹2.5 lakh from Rani Shinde’s purse, confirming the attempted robbery.

A case has been registered at Indapur Police Station, and further investigations are being conducted under the guidance of Police Inspector Suryakant Kokane by Assistant Police Inspector Pundalik Gawde.