12 December,2016 08:42 AM IST | | Santosh Wagh
People forget the past, but unfortunately it never dies. Raju Soni (55), who was a well-known dealer of stolen cars, is a changed man now, but the cops are not ready to believe it
Accused Raju Soni
People forget the past, but unfortunately it never dies. Raju Soni (55), who was a well-known dealer of stolen cars, is a changed man now, but the cops are not ready to believe it. Reason: He had jumped bail after his arrest in the year 2007. After nine years, the police have managed to catch hold of him again from Gujarat.
Soni, who was a very active dealer of stolen cars from 1995-2004, was working as a land dealer for solar plants in Rajkot, after he fled to Gujarat in 2007. Sources said the cops could trace him down as he had opened bank accounts in his name after moving to Gujarat. Crime Branch officials worked on the lead and arrested him last Thursday.
Speaking to mid-day, inspector Ajay Sawant said, "He was produced in court and later sent to jail."
Arrested twice
Crime Branch officials said that when Soni was a car dealer, he had contacts related to stolen vehicles in other states as well. He is believed to have stolen dozens of vehicles from Mumbai and sold them in Gujarat. Nearly 25 cases of vehicle theft have been registered against him.
First he was arrested in 2004 by officials of unit 5 of the Crime Branch and 22 stolen vehicles were recovered from him. He got bail in 2005, but again resumed his business. Again, in 2007, he was arrested by the DB Marg Police. However, he managed to secure bail in the case and never returned. Since then police was on his lookout.
Sawant said, "Constable Vikas Ghagare was working on the case. Recently he received information regarding Soni's location. After that, assistant inspector Pravin Kharade and Ghagare went to Gujarat and nabbed him."
