Pune Crime Branch Arrests 22-Year-Old Assault Accused After Five Months on the Run
Pune Crime Branch Unit 1 apprehended 22-year-old Sahil Irfan Dawatkhani, who had allegedly been absconding for five months in an assault case registered at Samarth Police Station. The case concerns an attack on two men near Bharat Talkies in Bhavani Peth on May 3, 2026. Police detained the accused in Guruwar Peth and handed him over to Samarth Police Station for further action.
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Pune: Pune City Crime Branch Unit 1 has apprehended a 22-year-old man who had allegedly been absconding for nearly five months in connection with an assault case registered at Samarth Police Station.
The accused has been identified as Sahil Irfan Dawatkhani (22), a resident of Guruwar Peth, Pune. Police traced him following a tip-off and detained him during a planned operation.
Two Men Assaulted in Bhavani Peth
According to the police press release, the incident occurred on May 3, 2026, at approximately 9:30 pm near Dadapir Dargah, close to Bharat Talkies in Pune's Bhavani Peth area.
The complainant and his friend were travelling towards Camp on a motorcycle when they stopped near the dargah.
Police said four unidentified men allegedly confronted the duo, verbally abused them and assaulted them with kicks and punches.
The attackers also allegedly used a broken tile to injure the complainant's left palm and his friend's left arm and back. They reportedly threatened the victims before leaving the scene.
Following the complaint, Samarth Police Station registered FIR No. 119/2026 under Sections 118(1), 115(2), 352, 351(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Crime Branch Lays Trap in Guruwar Peth
While searching for the wanted accused, Crime Branch Unit 1 received confidential information that Dawatkhani had returned to his residence near Dhangar Ali in Guruwar Peth.
The information was conveyed to Senior Police Inspector Deepak Lagad, who directed the team to verify the tip-off and take appropriate legal action.
A police team comprising Pramod Jagtap, Bhujbal, Ashish Kharat and Umesh Shelar subsequently reached the location and laid a trap.
The suspect was detained and brought to the Crime Branch Unit 1 office for questioning.
According to police, the investigation indicated his alleged involvement in the assault case.
Accused Handed Over to Samarth Police
Following preliminary questioning, the accused was handed over to Samarth Police Station for further legal proceedings.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Tejaswi Satpute, Deputy Commissioner of Police P. R. Patil, Assistant Commissioner of Police Shailesh Sankhe and Senior Police Inspector Deepak Lagad.
Assistant Police Inspector Dheeraj Raut and the Crime Branch Unit 1 team participated in the operation.
Police are continuing further investigation into the case.