3 lakh followers, 7 guns, 371 cartridges: Was Maharashtra's 'Pookie Don' raising a 'mini army'?

THANE: A 55-year-old builder and social media influencer 'Pookie Don' was arrested in Maharashtra’s Thane district for allegedly possessing a large cache of weapons, police said. The accused, Surendra Panduranga Patil—who has over three lakh followers on Instagram—was taken into custody on Saturday night, barely a week after securing bail in another case, an official added. Acting on a tip-off, a Crime Branch team raided Patil’s bungalow in Dombivli’s Dawdi area late Saturday and recovered the weapons concealed behind a fake panel in a newly installed shoe rack that reportedly did not match the house interiors. Police seized five country-made pistols and revolvers, some marked “Made in USA” along with two air guns, 371 cartridges, 167 pellets, a sword, a button knife, another sharp-edged weapon, and two steel rods. The total value of the haul is estimated at Rs 10 lakh. Officials said the volume of ammunition indicated the stockpile was fully functional. While Patil has claimed the weapons were merely props for his gangster-themed social media content, investigators are probing whether he was planning to assemble a “mini-army” or supply arms to local criminals.His Instagram reels earned him the nicknames ‘Pookie Uncle’ and ‘Pookie Don’. Projecting himself as a local strongman online, Patil has amassed over 3 lakh followers, with his quirky dance videos often drawing lakhs of views. In several clips, he is seen brandishing firearms and even showcasing the police protection he once had, before it was later withdrawn. A history-sheeter, Patil has now been booked under the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.(With PTI inputs)