Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrests 3 main accused in Vastral vandalism case

The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested three key accused in connection with a violent gang clash and public vandalism incident that took place near Vastral RTO Road under Ramol police station limits in March this year. The trio had been on the run for nearly three months and were traced to different locations across Ahmedabad.

The arrests were made in connection with a crime registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and sections of the Gujarat Police Act. The charges pertain to forcibly shutting down shops and food stalls, road blockades, acts of vandalism, and creating public panic.

Arrested accused

Pankaj alias Sarkar Bhavsar, 22, resident of Vastral

Ashwin alias Khatu Nadiya, 19, resident of Naroda

Ashutosh alias Asu Pille, 24, resident of Amraiwadi

The accused were apprehended from the Chandkheda and Motera Road areas and later handed over to the Ramol police for further legal action.

The March incident

According to the Crime Branch, the incident was rooted in a gang rivalry between the groups led by Pankaj Bhavsar and Sangram Tomar. The conflict escalated after Pankaj’s cousin, Sonu alias Teka, who had arrived from Rajasthan, tried to set up a pakodi stall near Sureliya Shashwat Mahadev in Vastral. Local vendor Sangram Sikarwar opposed the move and threatened Pankaj over the phone on March 12, warning him of dire consequences.

The next day, on March 13, Pankaj and his associates — including over 30 individuals armed with weapons — assembled near Kamdar Maidan. The group included known names such as Rajiv alias BRS Tomar, Ashwin alias Khatu, Ashutosh alias Asu, Govind alias Dadda, and others. The gang then proceeded to Vastral RTO Road in search of Sangram. Unable to find him, they allegedly forced vendors to shut their shops, blocked roads, vandalised public property, and even fired shots in the air. The chaos caused widespread panic before the group fled the scene.

Escape route and capture

After the incident, the accused fled the city using Ashwin’s Instagram ID for coordination and communication. They travelled across several states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi — passing through Vadodara, Bhilwara, Sultanpur, Kanpur, Bhind, Goregaon, Mithapur, Varanasi — before renting a house in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. Their movements were financed by selling an Activa 6G scooter.

The Crime Branch tracked their digital communication, primarily over Instagram calls and messages, and eventually traced them to Ahmedabad, where they were nabbed.

Criminal history of the accused

Pankaj alias Sarkar Bhavsar has a criminal record involving at least 11 previous cases under Ramol, Amraiwadi, and Isanpur Police Stations, including rioting, assault, and Arms Act offences. He has also been detained under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act and has served jail terms in Rajkot and Bhuj.

Ashutosh alias Asu Pille has been involved in multiple offences since 2018, including under the Arms Act and for violent crimes. He has been detained under PASA on three occasions and has served time in Surat Lajpore, and Vadodara jails.

Ashwin alias Khatu Nadiya is also a habitual offender involved in several rioting and assault cases, and was wanted in a 2024 case registered under Isanpur police station for serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.