MCOCA evoked against six for sandalwood theft

Nashik: The Nashik police have slapped Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) on six people for their alleged involvment in sandalwood theft. While four suspects have been arrested, two are on the run.
The proposal for slapping MCOCA on the suspects involved in sandalwood theft was put forth by the Satpur police and the same was approved by CP Vishwas Nangre Patil.
The suspects have been identified as Laxman Tatya Pawar of Igatpuri, Sanjay Manik Jadhav of Pathardigaon, Shivaji Jadhav and Uttam Narayan Jadhav, both residents of Palse, Rama Koli and Tatya Pawar. Of the six suspects, Koli and Pawar are on the run.
Meanwhile, a minor involved in sandalwood theft was arrested and sent to the Judicial Justice Court.
Police said theives often target heritage properties in the city, including government offices and residences of government officers that have a number of sandalwood trees.
The maximum number of sandalwood thefts were reported from the Maharashtra Police Academy, Nashik Rural SP’s bungalow, district collectorate and the forest department office.
“The concerned suspects were actively involved in sandalwood theft. After their arrest, we found that they were also involved in other cases of thefts, robberies and other serious crimes, following which the proposal of Satpur police to apply MCOCA against the sandalwood thieves was approved,” Nangre Patil said.
On June 24, the gang of six stole a sandalwood tree worth Rs 10,000 from the premises of Maharashtra Police Academy along the Trimbak Road in the city.