Mumbai: Elusive serial burglar falls in police net

In the footage from CCTV, the suspect is seen breaking into a wine shop in Nalasopara West. Pics/Hanif Patel

A 38-year-old burglar wanted by dozens of police stations in Thane, Palghar and Gujarat is finally in the custody of Nalasopara police. Ram Naresh Gupta has been booked in over 55 house breaking theft (HBT) cases in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The officers at Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police had been trying to nab Gupta after he allegedly broke into a wine shop in Nalasopara West in December 2023 "Gupta stole with Rs 2.10 lakh cash from the shop. Gupta had a facemask and a cap at the time of committing the offence. He was also wearing a checked shirt. Though his face was not visible, his body language helped me identify him as I had arrested him in the past in a different case at Kashimira police station," said police sub-inspector Rajendra Chandankar, investigating officer in the case.

Ram Naresh Gupta was arrested by Nalasopara police

Since the accused was identified, a team from Nalasopara police station reached Gupta's residence in Diva, but he had fled before that, said another officer privy to the investigation. But the team of police recovered the checked shirt from his house in Diva. Gupta remained underground for a while, but he approached Bombay HC seeking anticipatory bail in the case, which was registered against him at Nalasopara police station. Though the cops raised objection to reject his anticipatory bail, Gupta's lawyer argued that the images from the CCTV footage do not establish the identity of his client.

"His lawyer managed to secure anticipatory bail for Gupta despite the fact that we informed the HC that the same shirt seen in the CCTV footage was recovered from Gupta's residence. But the lawyer contended that such shirts are available online and could be purchased by anyone," said another officer. Though the MBVV police had not given up hope, an emboldened Gupta broke into a mobile showroom shop at Vadodara in April.

"Gupta was arrested in this case by Vadodara police who brought him to Thane to recover the stolen booty. But he escaped the clutches of police and later arrested by Kolsewadi police in Thane," deputy commissioner of police Jayant Bajbhale told mid-day. With Gupta's arrest, the police approached Bombay High Court and got his anticipatory bail cancelled, said Bajbhale.

The senior inspector of Nalasopara police station Vijaysinh Bagal said that they secured the custody of Gupta and recovered various mobile phones and jewellery collectively worth Rs 25 lakh from his possession. "Gupta is in police custody and our investigations are underway," said Bagal. Meanwhile, the investigating officer Chandankar said that Gupta would commit the crime single handedly and prefer to target wine and mobile shops. "His son-in-law Abhishek Soni is at large," he added.

55
No of burglary cases against the suspect