📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Shyjucherian98
Crime
11 Arrested for Mobile Theft During Pune’s Ganesh Visarjan, 63 Phones and Car Seized
✍️ Free Press Journal
🗓 28 Sep 2026, 04:17 AM
👁 9
Police in Pune detained eleven suspects after a large‑scale mobile theft during the Ganesh Visarjan, recovering 63 phones and a car valued at ₹30.57 lakh.
During the annual Ganesh Visarjan celebrations in Pune, law‑enforcement officials uncovered a coordinated theft operation targeting mobile phones from devotees. The incident unfolded as crowds gathered near the riverbanks where the idol was being immersed, providing thieves an opportunity to snatch devices from unsuspecting participants.
Pune police arrested eleven individuals suspected of orchestrating the theft. A thorough search of the suspects' vehicles and hideouts led to the seizure of sixty‑three mobile phones along with a four‑door car, which authorities have appraised at approximately ₹30.57 lakh.
Senior police spokesperson Shri Amit Deshmukh said the recovered assets will be returned to the rightful owners after verification. He added that the investigation remains ongoing to identify any additional accomplices and to determine whether the stolen items were intended for resale.
The police have warned that large public gatherings, especially during festivals, can attract criminal elements, and urged citizens to remain vigilant, keep personal belongings secure, and report any suspicious activity promptly.
Pune police arrested eleven individuals suspected of orchestrating the theft. A thorough search of the suspects' vehicles and hideouts led to the seizure of sixty‑three mobile phones along with a four‑door car, which authorities have appraised at approximately ₹30.57 lakh.
Senior police spokesperson Shri Amit Deshmukh said the recovered assets will be returned to the rightful owners after verification. He added that the investigation remains ongoing to identify any additional accomplices and to determine whether the stolen items were intended for resale.
The police have warned that large public gatherings, especially during festivals, can attract criminal elements, and urged citizens to remain vigilant, keep personal belongings secure, and report any suspicious activity promptly.