Man wanted in 15-year-old case held in Pune

A 51-year-old man, allegedly involved in over 100 cases of theft and robbery, was arrested from Pune by the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police, an official said.

Santosh Gopal Nair was nabbed by unit 12 of the Crime Branch in Pune Wednesday night, he said.

Nair was hiding in Pune under a false identity for the last few years, he said.

In 2004, the Crime Branch had arrested four of Nair's aides when they were about to commit a robbery at a diamond polishing unit in Thane, seizing a pistol, live rounds, two choppers and a car.

Nair and another person however managed to flee and since then the police were on the look-out for them, said the official.

His interrogation revealed that he was involved in more than 100 cases of theft and robbery, and police were probing if he has any cases registered in Navi Mumbai, Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Vasai-Virar areas, the official said.