Debt-ridden youth turns chain snatcher for narco & gambling A 25-year-old e-rickshaw driver, Sachin Shahu, has been arrested for allegedly committing chain snatching to fund his addiction to narcotics, particularly mephedrone (MD), and a gambling habit. The incident occurred in Laxmi Nagar, Nagpur, where Shahu targeted a 77-year-old woman during her morning walk near a Jain temple. The accused allegedly snatched her 10-gram gold chain worth Rs 60,000 and slapped her before fleeing. Shahu’s criminal activities were driven by mounting debt and a cycle of addiction. Police revealed that he had earlier attempted suicide and spent several days in the hospital, but his financial struggles persisted. To sustain his expenses, he borrowed money from his girlfriend, despite having no prior criminal record. His initial attempts to avoid detection were successful, but his luck ended on April 4 when he committed the chain snatching incident. To evade capture, Shahu took deliberate routes through narrow lanes and bylanes to avoid CCTV cameras. However, the Crime Branch’s technical team managed to piece together footage from multiple locations, leading to his arrest at Butibori. During interrogation, Shahu confessed to the crime, stating it was to repay debts. The stolen gold chain was recovered, and the two-wheeler used in the offense was seized. Senior inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar of the Crime Branch confirmed the arrest, noting that the accused had been handed over to Bajaj Nagar police. The case was supervised by Addl CP Vasant Pardeshi, DCP Rahul Maknikar, and ACP Abhijeet Patil. The arrest highlights the intersection of personal financial distress, addiction, and criminal behavior, underscoring the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing such cases.#nagpur #jain_temple #crime_branch #laxmi_nagar #sachin_shahu
