Solapur Rural Police invoke MCOCA against 24-member gang over fake Aghori puja extortion

Solapur Rural Police have taken action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against a gang led by 'Mama' Bhosale, accused of extorting money from ordinary people by luring them with Aghori puja, sham practices and false religious rituals. The investigation has revealed an organised network of 24 accused.

At the centre of the network is Manohar alias 'Mama' Bhosale, a resident of Undargaon in Karmala taluka. Ramdas Jhol, president of the Dattakala Shikshan Sanstha, has also been named as a key associate.

During the investigation of a case registered at Kurduwadi police station, police found how the gang operated. Devotees were lured with false and Aghori puja and made to hand over cash as donations. Money was also taken online, and a separate arrangement was made to dispose of it. According to police, the 24 accused include those who took the money directly, those who moved it around and those who helped dispose of it.

Bhosale and his associate Vishal alias Nathbaba Waghmare were arrested on April 25, 2026. Police then widened the investigation and traced the gang's money trail. The probe found that money was being collected from people at Bhosale's instance and routed onward through different channels.

Police said the most striking finding was that the Dattakala Shikshan Sanstha, run by accused Ramdas Jhol and Maya Jhol, was allegedly used for these financial transactions. The institution is located at Swami Chincholi in Daund taluka, Pune district. According to the investigation, cash obtained by fraud was brought into the institution with the help of its employees, made to appear legitimate and then passed back to Manohar Bhosale.

Police said these organised activities, run under the cover of sham practices, created fear and panic among people in Solapur Rural, Pune district and surrounding areas. Manohar Bhosale had earlier been arrested in another case and released on bail. The investigation found that he became active in criminal activity again afterwards. Police also found that immovable property was bought with the proceeds of crime.

Considering the gang's organised nature, the web of money transactions and the fear spread among people, Solapur Rural Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni had sent a proposal to Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Special Inspector General of Police, Kolhapur Range, to add MCOCA provisions. After the proposal was approved, MCOCA sections were added against the accused.

The investigation's findings on why MCOCA was invoked are: organised financial fraud against people, online and cash transactions, a separate arrangement to dispose of the fraud proceeds, and the purchase of property with money from crime. The law has been applied to the gang on these grounds.

Further investigation is being conducted by Anjana Krishna, Assistant Superintendent of Police of the Karmala sub-division. Police have taken a tough stand against those who defraud ordinary people in the name of superstition, Aghori puja and sham practices. Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni has appealed to people to contact the police immediately if they face such fraud.