A suspect involved in the break-in at the District Central Bank locker facility in Zhare village of Atpadi taluka has been arrested by the Local Crime Investigation team. The accused, identified as Adesh Baburao Sharma (30), a resident of Hasanpur in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended in Satara district. Police recovered valuables worth Rs 13,95,500 from his possession. With this arrest, the total number of accused held in connection with the case has risen to seven. The incident, which had created widespread panic, involved a well-organised gang that targeted the bank’s lockers and looted cash and jewellery.
The burglary took place on January 7, shortly after midnight, when members of a gang from Uttar Pradesh, aided by accomplices from Sangli district, broke into the bank branch. They shattered the rear window, cut through iron grills using a gas cutter, and gained entry inside. Once inside, they used the same equipment to break open 22 lockers in the locker room. The gang made away with gold, silver ornaments, and cash belonging to customers. The daring heist had caused significant concern among residents and account holders, prompting an intensive investigation by the crime branch team.
Earlier, the police had arrested six other suspects, including Rahul Ranjmish Sharma, Vishwajit Vijay Patil, Sanket Arun Jadhav, Ijaz Raju Attar, Aslam alias Tantan Mitthori Khan, and Shakeel Akbar Qureshi. Acting on a tip-off that Adesh Sharma would arrive in Satara district, the team laid a trap and detained him. During a search, officials recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 13.85 lakh along with Rs 10,500 in cash. During interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the crime committed two months ago. So far, police have seized property worth over Rs 3.25 crore, while efforts are ongoing to trace absconding members of the gang.