Pune, 27 February 2026: The Warje Malwadi Police have arrested an absconding accused associated with the notorious Nilesh Gaywal gang from Barshi in Solapur district.
The accused had been on the run for four months in connection with two cases registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA).
The arrested accused has been identified as Amol Dattatray Lakhe (27), a resident of Itkheda in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He was wanted in two separate MCOCA offences lodged at Warje Malwadi and Kothrud police stations.
Since the registration of the cases, Lakhe had been hiding to avoid arrest, making it difficult for the police to trace his whereabouts.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sambhaji Kadam had directed officers to intensify efforts to apprehend the absconding accused. Acting on specific information received by Police Sub-Inspector Sanjay Narale from the crime investigation team, officials learned that Lakhe was staying in Barshi.
Under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Mahesh Bolkotgi and Police Inspector (Crime) Prakash Dhende, a police team laid a trap and arrested Lakhe in the early hours of Thursday (February 26) from Barshi.
Police officials said, “The accused had been absconding for nearly four months in two MCOCA cases. Based on technical inputs and local intelligence, he was traced and taken into custody from Barshi.”
Further investigation is underway.