Thane, February 17 Police have arrested a 22-year-old man from Pune who had been on the run for more than a year after being accused in a case of gang rape and robbery in Thane district, Maharashtra, officials said on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Nagesh Keshav Gaikwad, was part of a group that allegedly confined a woman and sexually assaulted her under the guise of helping her find a job in November 2024, according to Sanjay Hazare, senior inspector at the Naigaon police station.
The accused had been evading arrest by concealing his identity since the case was registered. Following a tip-off and technical surveillance, the police tracked him to Kamshet and took him into custody on Sunday, he said.
The case dates back to November 27, 2024, when the victim went to Pune seeking employment. After missing an interview, she contacted her husband's friend, Pawan Rajendra Prasad Sabbat (29), who promised to help her find work.
Sabbat then lured her to come to Mira Road in Thane, where he allegedly confined her in a room, the official said.
The investigation revealed that Sabbat and two of his accomplices, Dhanraj Chavan (21) and Abhishek Pujari (22), allegedly sexually assaulted the victim over several days. They also allegedly stole the woman's mobile phone, gold jewelry, and cash, collectively valued at Rs 75,000, he said.
Sabbat also allegedly created a fake Instagram profile using the victim's name and uploaded her photographs to harass her.
Gaikwad was accused of molesting the victim and being involved in the robbery, Hazare said.
The Naigaon police had previously arrested Sabbat, Chavan, and Pujari.
"We have booked the accused under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 64(2)(m) (rape), 309(1) (robbery), 70 (gang rape), and 75(1)(4) (sexual harassment), as well as relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. During preliminary interrogation, Gaikwad has confessed to his involvement," Hazare said.