Pune: 17 members of two criminal gangs have been boked by Pune Rural police under the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).Police said the gangs were operating in Rajgad and Shirur and were involved in serious offences such as murder, attempt to murder, abduction, dacoity and illegal possession of firearms. Special Inspector General of Police (Kolhapur Range) Ranjan Kumar Sharma approved the proposal to invoke MCOCA against the two gangs.Yogesh Machale, the kingpin of a gang operating in Shirur, and his aides have 27 criminal cases registered against them. In March this year, Machale and his associates allegedly opened fire on a man during a cricket tournament in Shirur. Then Shirur police inspector Sandesh Kenjale prepared the proposal to invoke MCOCA against the gang. Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravindra Bhosale is investigating the MCOCA case.Rajgad police inspector Rajesh Gawali prepared the proposal to invoke MCOCA against Akshay Ingulkar, a history-sheeter, and his gang members. The gang has nine criminal cases registered against its members. In March this year, Ingulkar and his accomplices allegedly abducted a 17-year-old boy at gunpoint. The police later rescued the victim. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajendrasingh Gaur is investigating the MCOCA case.
