Mumbai: Cop turns robber after losing Rs 42L in online betting

The cop-turned-bandit in police custody

A 37-year-old head constable, attached to the Mumbai Police's quick response team (QRT), transformed into a highway robber after struggling to repay bank loans worth Rs 42 lakh. Sources from Padgha police told mid-day that the policeman, Suraj Devram Dhokare, had racked up the debt after losing money on betting apps. On Friday night, intending to loot motorcyclists on a deserted road, Dhokare fired eight rounds at cousins Azim Aslam Sayed and Firoz Rafiq Shaikh, who were heading to Malegaon on their motorcycle.

Sayed, 30, succumbed to bullet injuries he received on his abdomen and thigh, while Firoz, whose jaw got badly damaged by a gunshot, is still battling for life at Sion hospital. "Azim is no more," said his uncle Rafiq. mid-day was the first to report about the firing incident in its Sunday edition. The policeman had used a face mask to conceal his identity. The Superintendent of Thane Rural Police Vikram Deshmane told mid-day that Dhokare had borrowed the motorcycle he was on from a friend in order to commit the offence. But he left the motorcycle behind after the public started to converge at the crime spot after hearing eight gunshots being fired.

Suraj Devram Dhokare, the accused (left) Firoz Rafiq Shaikh, the victim (right) Azim Aslam Sayed, the victim

Both cousins are residents of Virar and had been travelling to Malegaon on their scooter to spend the day with their relatives at their farmhouse. Sources at Padgha police told mid-day that Dhokare had been waiting for a victim on Bhiwandi Road on Friday night. "Dhokare was on a red motorcycle he had borrowed. After the cousins reached Bhiwandi Road, Dhokare stopped them and requested them to drive slowly as he was scared to navigate the deserted stretch," said a source.

"After a few metres, Dhokare requested the cousins to stop their scooter as he [accused policeman] wanted to take a leak by the roadside. The cousins agreed," the source added. But after getting off his motorcycle, Dhokare brandished his service revolver, pointed it at the cousins and told them to give him all their belongings and cash. "It was pitch dark and Dhokare's face was not visible as he was wearing a face mask," said Firoz's father Rafiq, who repairs autorickshaw meters in Virar.

Firoz was riding the scooter. Before the cousins could gather their wits, Dhokare fired at Azim's thigh. "By now, Azim had got off the scooter and started to limp on the road into the dark. Though Dhokare tried to chase Azim, he could not catch him. So, he fired another shot at his abdomen," said the police. Meanwhile, Rafiq said, "The killer had been running behind Azim and firing at him."

The motorcycle used by Suraj Devram Dhokare to carry out highway robbery

But after taking shelter on the deserted road, Azim took out his mobile phone, called Rafiq and informed him about the attack. "I could not understand what was happening on the spot. When I asked Azim about Firoz, he was unaware as it was a dark night and nothing was visible," Rafiq added. Meanwhile, Dhokare aimed his pistol at Azim's temple but in the melee, the bullet injured the latter's jaw and he could not move. By this time, Dhokare had fired a total of eight rounds from his service revolver.

Hearing the gunshots, the villagers got alarmed and raced to the crime spot. Seeing the crowd of local residents, the policeman-turned-robber tried to start his motorcycle, bearing registration number MH04DX6746, but the bike did not start. "Dhokare dumped the motorcycle and escaped the crime scene with his empty service revolver," said the policeman. Locals then rushed the cousins, who were soaked in blood, to a nearby clinic in Bhiwandi. Later, they were taken to a private hospital in Thane where the doctors referred them to Sion hospital in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the cops from Padgha police had arrived at the crime spot, cordoned off the area and a forensic team recovered the pieces of evidence scattered all around. The cops also took custody of the motorcycle the cop had left behind at the crime scene.

Bullets that were found at the crime scene. Pics/Hanif Patel

How he was arrested

With the help of a motorcycle registration number, the cops reached out to its owner who lives in Thane. The cops learnt that Dhokare had taken his motorcycle, citing some personal work. Meanwhile, the investigating team had learnt about the shooter and sent a message on the wireless to nab him.

Nabbed at Ahmednagar

The investigating team had got the photograph of Dhokare and the same was circulated among nearby district police officials. With the help of human intelligence, the Thane rural police learnt that Dhokare had reached Ahmednagar.

The in-charge of Loni police station in Ahmednagar API Yuvraj Athare said, "I had received a photograph of the accused and learnt that he is near a bus stop in Kolhar. So, we checked all the buses there and found Dhokare inside a bus which was about to leave for Nashik."

"So, we took him in our custody on Sunday and recovered the service revolver used in the crime. We have handed him over to Thane rural police for further investigation," Athare told mid-day.