A history-sheeter was today arrested for allegedly stealing a service revolver of a lady police officer while she was on duty at suburban Juhu beach during the Ganesh idols immersion last year, police said.
Acting on a tip-off, Vadivel Ponnudurai Devendra (30) was arrested from Nehru Nagar shanties at Juhu and the revolver and two rounds were recovered from the spot where he had hidden them, police said.
According to police, Ranjana Salunkhe, inspector attached with Juhu police station, was on duty at Juhu beach on September 29 last year as the Ganesh idols immersed.
Salunkhe went to the washroom and kept her mobile phone and the revolver with 6 bullets near the window. The revolver could not be seen after a while following which she complained at the police station.
During the probe that lasted for six months, crime branch officials zeroed in on Devendra, who confessed to the crime.
Devendra had stolen the weapon under the influence of alcohol and fired four rounds in the air at an isolated place near Juhu aerodrome and then hid the weapon under a rock adjacent to the compound wall of the aerodrome, police said.
The firearm and two bullets were recovered from the spot, police said adding that the accused was earlier involved in murder, theft and assault cases among others.
