© Provided by The Indian Express

A history-sheeter with a record of being arrested in 35 house break-in cases was arrested in connection with a theft in a house in Pune’s Ghorpadi, the Pune city police said on Wednesday, adding that he was an online gambling addict.

The police identified the accused as Mukesh Baban Mune (26) of Sutardara, Kothrud. Mune’s aide Nitin Suresh Bagade (32) of Ahmednagar was also arrested, the police added.

After valuables worth Rs 40 lakh, including jewellery and foreign currency, were stolen from a house in Sopan Baug society in Ghorpadi, a Crime Branch team led by Police Inspector Ulhas Kadam launched a probe and zeroed in on Mune and his Bagade.

Earlier this week, the police arrested the duo from Kharadi bypass in Pune and recovered jewellery worth Rs 16 lakh and foreign currency ( in dollars and pounds) worth Rs 4.5 lakh from them.

A press release issued by the police on Wednesday stated that Mune was addicted to online gambling on ‘Bingo App’. He wanted money to gamble and decided to commit house break-ins to fuel his addiction, the police said, adding that he spent the money he got from the theft on gambling.