Nagpur: Crime Branch Unit-5 has arrested notorious criminal Akash Rajan Thapa (29) from Jaripatka and seized three country-made pistols, two live cartridges and two mobile phones in a major operation linked to the investigation into the Bhandewadi firing case. The total value of the seized property is estimated at ₹1.57 lakh.

Thapa, a resident of Mekosabagh in Lumbini Nagar, was nabbed after police received intelligence that he was roaming near Lendi Ground and Matrichhaya Library in Jaripatka while allegedly threatening people with firearms.

Acting on the tip-off, Crime Branch officers laid a trap and detained Thapa. During the search, police recovered one country-made pistol fitted with a steel magazine, two live cartridges and two mobile phones from his possession. A subsequent search of his residence led to the recovery of two more illegal firearms, including another pistol with a steel magazine and a country-made katta.

During interrogation, Thapa allegedly revealed that the weapons had been arranged by his associate Yogesh Siriya, a resident of Sadar, who sourced them from an arms supplier identified as Akash Bhai from Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh.

Police said the accused had allegedly displayed the weapons a few days earlier to intimidate associates of notorious criminal Vishal Meshram, who was recently released from Nagpur Central Jail. Investigators believe Thapa, Yogesh Siriya and another accused, Abhay from Gittikhadan, brandished the firearms to threaten a group led by Kunal Samudre, who had come to receive Meshram after his release.

A case has been registered against Thapa under relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act. Crime Branch teams are now searching for the absconding accused and investigating the interstate illegal arms supply network linked to the seized weapons.

The operation was carried out by Crime Branch Unit-5 under the supervision of senior Nagpur Police officials as part of the ongoing crackdown on organised crime and illegal arms possession in the city.