Pune: The Pune Police Anti-Extortion Cell has detained four college students for allegedly spreading videos of notorious gangster Gaja Marne on Instagram to gain popularity and increase their social media follower count.
The accused had posted clips with captions such as "King of Pune," "King of Maharashtra," and "Badshah," creating an atmosphere of fear. Acting on the matter, the police have registered a case against them at Kothrud Police Station.
Crackdown on Social Media Crime
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Akshay Nivrutti Shinde (19) – Resident of Nimgaon Khallu, Shrigonda
Siddharth Vivekanand Jadhav (20) – Resident of Mohammadwadi
Sahil Shahil Sheikh (19) – Resident of Sumba, Dharashiv
Irfan Hasan Sheikh (19) – Resident of Sumba, Dharashiv
A complaint was filed by police constable Prashant Shinde at Kothrud Police Station. The accused had allegedly used social media to glorify criminal activities, which caught the attention of law enforcement authorities. In response, the Anti-Extortion Cell took swift action, summoning and detaining the students involved.
Police Warn of Strict Action Against Criminal Glorification
According to police officials, the students used Gaja Marne’s image and reputation to create a sense of intimidation while trying to boost their own social media engagement. The Crime Branch identified videos with threatening undertones and launched an investigation into the matter.
The crackdown was carried out under the leadership of Additional Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner Nikhil Pingle, and Assistant Commissioner Rajendra Mulik. Senior Inspector Vijay Kumbhar, Prashant Sande, Sub-Inspector Gaurav Dev, and other officials played key roles in the operation.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar issued a stern warning, stating that strict legal action will be taken against individuals who use social media to create fear or glorify criminal elements. He emphasized that the police are actively monitoring such activities to maintain law and order in the city.
