Pune Police Intensify Crackdown on Gangster Nilesh Ghaywal's Benami Assets
Intensifying the crackdown on Nilesh Ghaywal, the Pune Police have written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the fugitive gangster’s benami properties and suspected money laundering through multiple firms, bank accounts, and land acquired at undervalued rates in alleged land-grabbing cases. The Pune Police have also sought Ghaywal’s prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The development comes a day after the British High Commission, responding to a Pune police’s letter, confirmed that Ghaywal is currently in the UK and that they have contacted the authorities concerned in the UK for his detention and deportation.
“We have written to the ED about the criminal history of fugitive gangster Ghaywal, the illicit wealth he and his family members have amassed through criminal activities, multiple bank accounts, and several firms. We have investigated large land tracts that have been acquired at undervalued rates, through cases of alleged land grabbing. He also has partnerships in several companies where illegally amassed wealth has been invested. During our investigations, we have seized many documents regarding benami properties in and around Pune district. This clearly points to widespread money laundering activities. We have asked the ED that this case be considered for action under the PMLA,” said a senior police officer.
Police have said their probe points to largescale accumulation of real estate, land, and monetary assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The presence of multiple bank accounts and business entities points to concealment of the origins of illicit funds. Police have also informed the ED about Ghaywal’s travel to the UK on a passport allegedly obtained using forged documents and false address proof, and that the passport now stands revoked.
As many as 10 offences have been registered against the notorious gang leader Ghaywal since September 17, when members of his gang allegedly opened fire at a man and attacked a student with sharp weapons in Kothrud area following a road rage incident. Taking into consideration the past cases against him, the number of offences against him has now gone past 25, police said. Police have issued a Look Out Circular against him and have ensured the issuance of a Blue Corner Notice through Interpol. Ghaywal is a dreaded criminal on police record, who leads a gang allegedly involved in serious offences like murder, attempt to murder, and extortions.
According to police investigation, Ghaywal applied for a tatkal passport at the regional passport office in Pune in 2019, mentioning that he was a resident of ‘Gauri Ghumat, Anandi Bazar, Maliwada Road, Ahmednagar (now renamed Ahilyanagar)’ and changing the spelling of his name to Gaiwal. Failing to locate him at this address, the Ahilyanagar police entered a ‘not available’ remark on his application, which was forwarded to the passport office in Pune on January 16, 2020. In spite of this, a passport was issued to Ghaywal, using which he left India and travelled to the UK on a visitor visa.
Ghaywal, who used to be a henchman for notorious gangster Gaja Marne in the early 2000s, has in the past been booked for cases of murder, attempt to murder, and extortion among others. He has also faced preventive detention in prison under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, and Dangerous Persons Act, 1981 (MPDA Act) and prosecution under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. Police records show that Marne and Ghaywal used to operate together from 2000 till 2003. The two separated later, and multiple clashes between the two outfits have since been reported, including murders and attempts on the lives of rival gang members.
