History-sheeter linked to Nepal-based Maoists arrested in Andheri

The Maharashtra anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) officials on Saturday arrested a history-sheeter, with alleged links to Nepal-based Maoists, in possession of a firearm. The agency claimed the accused was planning an armed robbery.

The arrested man has been identified as 38-year-old Dalvirsingh Balwantsingh Rawat alias Raja alias Pappu Nepali. Rawat has at least 30 cases registered against him and is believed to have funded Maoists in Nepal with money procured from dacoity and robbery.

Rawat is from Uttarakhand and has been involved in criminal activities for the last 15 years, the police said.

Additional director general of police (ATS) Deven Bharti said police inspector Daya Nayak had received information that Rawat would attempt an armed robbery at the Mastkaar Petrol Pump around 2 pm on Saturday. Acting on the information, a police team was deployed to the site and Rawat was arrested.

The police seized a country-made pistol and three live rounds from his possession.

"Rawat has at least 30 cases of robbery and dacoity registered against him in Thane, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai," Nayak said. "Rawat revealed that he had conducted an armed dacoity with his associates at a jewellery manufacturing unit at Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh in 2017. Rawat and his men had decamped with 16 kilograms of gold jewellery."

Hiding in Virar

During the interrogation, the police found out that Rawat had been hiding in Virar. "Rawat had been funding Maoists with the stolen goods," an officer said. "His associates are from Nepal. He had planned to flee the city by boarding a Shramik Special train and then escape to Nepal."

Rawat has been booked on charges of possession of illegal firearms. He was produced before a local court and remanded to police custody. The police are investigating how he procured the firearm.