Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday directed the Pune police to initiate the strongest possible measures against those involved in the illegal acquisition of a passport by notorious gangster Nilesh Ghaywal, amid mounting political pressure over the fugitive's evasion of justice. Ghaywal, a key figure in Pune's underworld with over a dozen cases registered against him—including murder, extortion, and organised Pune Police Told To Act Firmly Against Lawbreakers In Ghaywal Controversy crime—allegedly fled the country using fraudulent documents, sparking outrage from opposition parties like the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).
Pawar, speaking to reporters here, emphasised zero tolerance for lawbreakers, stating, "I have given clear instructions to the Pune police commissioner to take the strongest action against those who try to violate the rules and take the law into their own hands." This comes days after Ghaywal's associates were implicated in a shooting during a road rage incident in the city, leading to fresh charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The controversy deepened with revelations about Ghaywal's family ties to state politics and administration. His brother, Sachin Ghaywal, recently faced scrutiny over an arms licence application approved by Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam despite adverse police recommendations citing security risks. Pawar clarified that while the home department had greenlit the licence, the Pune police commissioner had withheld final issuance, underscoring procedural safeguards.
"The Pune police chief apprised me that although the home department approved it, the licence was not granted," Pawar noted, vowing no political interference. This episode highlights broader concerns over arms proliferation in Maharashtra, where over 5,000 licences are issued annually, often amid allegations of favouritism in a state plagued by gang rivalries in cities like Pune and Nagpur.
Pawar, who serves as Pune's guardian minister, revealed that a high-level inquiry is underway into the passport fraud, probing potential recommendations or lapses by passport authorities. Ghaywal, believed to be hiding in the United Arab Emirates or Southeast Asia based on intelligence inputs, had evaded arrest since 2023 despite multiple red-corner notices from Interpol. The gangster's network, linked to real estate extortion and narcotics, has long targeted Pune's booming construction sector, contributing to a spike in violent incidents—Pune reported 15 gang-related shootings in 2024 alone, per state crime data. Opposition leaders, including Nana Patole of Congress, have accused the Maha Yuti government of shielding criminals with political patronage, demanding Kadam's resignation and a CBI probe.
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In a show of unity, Pawar mentioned discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who echoed commitments for accountability. "I was with the Chief Minister yesterday, and he too asserted that action will be taken against those responsible," Pawar affirmed. As the probe intensifies, with Pune police coordinating with central agencies, the case could expose systemic vulnerabilities in document verification processes, especially post the 2022 Aadhaar-Passport linkage reforms. For residents in Maharashtra's urban hubs, where gang influence persists despite crackdowns like Operation Thunderbolt, Pawar's directives signal a renewed push for law enforcement autonomy amid electoral sensitivities ahead of local polls.
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