Pune: Lata Ratan Rokade (42), former city president of a political party’s women’s wing, has been arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for aiding her criminal son.
The arrest was made by Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Devidas Gheware of the Dehu Road division, and she has been remanded to six days of police custody.
Lata’s son, Karan Ratan Rokade, is the main culprit in the May 2023 murder of Sonya Tapkir in Chikhali. In July 2023, Pimpri-Chinchwad police took action against Karan’s gang under MCOCA, including his brother Ritvik alias Mungya Ratan Rokade and their mother, Lata.
Lata had been evading the police since then and had applied for anticipatory bail, which was rejected. She was finally arrested on August 1.
The investigation revealed that Lata Rokade was involved in her son Karan’s criminal activities. On May 22, Karan and another individual shot and killed Sonya Tapkir.
To evade arrest, Lata purchased a car for Karan and his accomplices to flee to North India. She later hid the car in Akola to avoid detection.
The Anti-Gang Unit of Pimpri-Chinchwad Crime Branch, led by Assistant Police Inspector Harish Mane, eventually apprehended Karan and his accomplices near the India-Nepal border. It was discovered that Lata had assisted them in their escape.
Karan Rokade has 11 criminal cases against him in various police stations, and his brother Ritvik has 11 cases against him as well. The police action against Lata Rokade was for aiding her sons in evading arrest and facilitating their escape.
