Daijiworld Media Network – Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jul 11: Police seized more than Rs 5.26 crore in unaccounted cash, a large cache of weapons, gold and silver jewellery, and foreign liquor during a major raid on the bungalow of late gangster Baba Farzan in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Saturday.
The high-profile operation was carried out around six months after Farzan, once one of the most feared underworld figures in the region during the 1990s, died following a prolonged illness.
According to officials, Farzan's second wife, Sheela Ganpatrao Salve (52), was present at the residence when Crime Branch officers conducted the search.
During the raid, officials recovered unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 5,26,29,560. The seized money comprised Rs 100 and Rs 200 denomination notes, along with large quantities of bundled Rs 50, Rs 20 and Rs 10 notes. Police deployed five currency-counting machines to determine the exact amount.
The search also led to the recovery of weapons valued at around Rs 5.5 lakh. These included two pistols with magazines, four rifles, two 12-bore rifles, two air guns, a .22 rifle, one sword, three daggers, 17 types of knives and 21 other sharp-edged weapons.
In addition, police seized gold jewellery worth Rs 21,34,350, silver articles valued at Rs 8,09,248, and 45 bottles of liquor from various foreign and premium brands worth Rs 34,836.
Preliminary investigations revealed that licences for the 12-bore rifles, the .22 rifle, one pistol and a revolver were registered in Baba Farzan's name. However, police said they did not find any valid licence or supporting documents for the second pistol recovered during the operation.
Officials believe financial records, bank account details and documents relating to suspected benami properties recovered from the bungalow could help investigators establish links to several unsolved criminal cases dating back to the 1990s.
Baba Farzan was one of the most influential underworld figures in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar during the 1990s. His name was frequently associated with the settlement of disputes, extortion activities and land-related conflicts in the city and surrounding areas.
A native of the Rohila Gali locality, Farzan had served as a labour union president during the 1980s and 1990s before gaining notoriety in the criminal underworld.
He had been accused in four serious criminal cases, including rioting, assault, attempted murder and kidnapping.
Police said Farzan's influence had declined considerably in recent years because of ill health and advancing age. He died about six months ago after a prolonged illness, following which investigators launched the extensive search operation at premises linked to him.