The arrested accused have been identified as Pervez Abdul Shaikh (24), Afzal Yusuf Patel (23) and Naushad Baig (32). They were arrested by Unit 2 of the Crime Branch on December 27, and are in police custody till January 27.

“They were arrested on information pertaining to a gang of chain snatchers and during their interrogations they owned up to 20 chain snatching cases in areas like Matunga, Sion, N M Joshi Marg, Kalachowky, Bhoiwada, Colaba, Nagpada, Vikhroli and Dadar. We have so far recovered stolen property worth Rs 2, 72,300 in 11 of these cases and recoveries are still on,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria.

After the trio was arrested, the Crime Branch received a tip-off suggesting that they interrogate the gang in a case of firing.

“When we interrogated them, they admitted to their involvement in a case of firing on March 5 last year at Mira Road in which Amrut Jangid (24), the son of a builder, was fired at outside his office at Jangid Complex.  Jangid was shot in the arm, but managed to run up to his office and shut the door. In this case, it was Shaikh who had fired at Jingad. The accused have told us that they were promised a supari of Rs 5 lakh on behalf of Hemant Pujari and were given an advance of Rs 40,000. Jangid told the police that he had been asked to pay an extortion amount of Rs 2 crore. The arrested accused also said that they used to take up jobs for Chhota Shakeel as well,” said Maria.