The Pune police suspect that city-based gangster Nilesh Ghaywal is currently in the United Kingdom after fraudulently obtaining a passport and have written to the British High Commission seeking his detention and deportation, an official said, reported news agency PTI.
The police believe that Ghaywal, wanted in multiple cases including murder and extortion, has gone to the UK as his son lives there, the official said on Tuesday, reported PTI.
A few days before he disappeared, a case had been registered against him in the city after his associates allegedly shot and injured a person in the Kothrud area of the city following a road rage incident on September 18.
Following his escape, the Pune police registered multiple cases against him, including for obtaining the passport illegally.
“We believe that Ghaywal has gone to the UK as his son lives there. We have now written to the British High Commission in India and sought information about how he managed to obtain a visa, how long he has been staying in the UK, what type of visa he has obtained and the expiry date of the permit,” the police official said, reported PTI.
The city police are also seeking details about Ghaywal`s location in the UK, in which university his son is studying and who is financing his education, he said.
“Our letter says that Ghaywal`s passport has been revoked, so if he is currently in the UK, the process to detain and deport him can be started,” the official said, reported PTI.
The Pune police have already issued a lookout notice for Ghaywal and sought a blue corner notice through Interpol.
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule expressed outrage over Ghaywal obtaining the passport.
“How could a person involved in serious crimes, such as drugs, go abroad on a forged passport?” she asked.
Sule stated she will raise the issue of forged passports with the External Affairs Ministry and will seek the intervention of Foreign Minister S Jaishankar.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that he has instructed the Pune police to take the strongest possible action over the illegal acquisition of a passport by fugitive gangster Nilesh Ghaywal, reported news agency PTI.
“I have given clear instructions to the Pune police commissioner to take the strongest action against those who try to violate the rules and take the law into their own hands,” Pawar said, responding to the row over the fugitive gangster, reported PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
