MCOCA accused, absconding since last year, arrested

A man against whom police were pursuing a case under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), and who was at large since September last year, has been arrested, police said today.

Ashraf alias Tatya Gulam Rasul Patel was arrested yesterday, following a tip-off, from Mumbai's Versova area, Thane (Rural) Superintendent of Police Mahesh Patil said.

He informed that Patel, untraceable since September last year, was an accused in a case registered at Kashimira police station here.

In that case, Patel was accused of trying to kill a woman by setting her ablaze, an official said.

"The woman, a resident of Mira Road, had given Patel Rs 7 lakh as she wanted to buy a house. When he did not help her with the purchase, the woman wanted her money back," an official said.

It is alleged that Patel, along with his son Haris and another accomplice, Aman Anjum Patel, tried to set her ablaze when the woman visited Patel's house on May 26 last year, police said.

"A case was registered against Patel at Kashimira police station on June 4, 2017 under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and MCOCA," the official said.

He added that Patel was arrested yesterday by a team of the local Crime Branch led by assistant police inspector Pramod Bhadak.

Patel was produced before the special MCOCA court today which remanded him in police custody till April 27, officials said.

Further investigations were on under the supervision of Assistant Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni, officials said.