Thane Builder-Influencer 'Pookie Don' Held After 7 Guns, 371 Cartridges Recovered From Home

Last Updated:April 01, 2026, 15:59 IST

Influencer builder Surendra Patil was arrested in Thane and cache of pistols, air guns, ammo and weapons were seized from his bungalow.

A 55-year-old builder who also enjoys a large following on social media has been arrested in Maharashtra’s Thane district after police allegedly uncovered a cache of weapons hidden inside his bungalow, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Surendra Panduranga Patil, has more than 3 lakh followers on Instagram and is known for his gangster-themed videos. He was arrested on Saturday night, barely a week after being released on bail in another case, an official from the Crime Branch said.

“Acting on a tip-off, our team searched Patil’s bungalow in the Dawdi area of Dombivli late on Saturday night. We recovered a cache of weapons hidden behind a fake panel of a newly installed shoe rack that did not match the house’s interior," the official from the Crime Branch told PTI.

The cache included five country-made pistols and revolvers, some engraved with “Made in USA", as well as two air guns. Police also seized 371 cartridges, 167 air gun pellets, a sword, a button knife, a sharp-edged weapon and two steel rods. The total value of the seized items has been estimated at Rs 10 lakh.

“The quantity of ammunition suggests the stockpile was fully operational. While Patil claims the weapons were mere ‘props’ for his gangster-themed social media videos, we are investigating if he was preparing a ‘mini-army’ or supplying arms to local criminals," the official added.

Patil, described by police as a history-sheeter, now faces fresh charges under the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act as the investigation continues.

(With PTI Inputs)

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