Aarey police get lucky, nab two wanted criminals

MUMBAI: Not even God can catch me, forget about police, was a challenge a 26-year-old history-sheeter had thrown to Mumbai Police. Pappu Varte alias Khopdi was wanted since 2013 and his challenge had been conveyed to police by an informer. Within days, Aarey police nabbed him with weapons, foiling a robbery.
Varte has been involved in five cases, mainly thefts. Acting on a tip-off that he was to arrive at Royal Palms at Aarey Colony, sub-inspector Ulhas Kolam and his team laid a trap and picked up Varte on February 2.He was carrying a countrymade revolver and two cartridges, and was booked under Arms Act.
In another case, Aarey police arrested another history-sheeter who has been wanted for six months in an attempted murder case. Kanna Selvam, the accused, had released a video on Facebook during lockdown proclaiming himself as the King of Aarey. Police said he harboured dreams of becoming a don.
The attempted murder followed a dispute. While Selvam’s aides were held, he slipped out of town. Police picked him up earlier this week on learning that he was back at Aarey. Selvam has 20 criminal offences registered against him and had been externed out of city limits by Sahar, MIDC and Sakinaka police earlier.