Builder-influencer 'Pookie Don' arrested in Thane as police recover cache of weapons from Dombivli bungalow

New Delhi:

Police in Thane took action after receiving confidential information about illegal arms being stored at a house. The raid was carried out at a bungalow in Dombivli, leading to the arrest of Surendra Panduranga Patil, who is known both as a builder and a social media personality.

During the search, officers noticed something unusual about a newly fitted shoe rack inside the house. On closer inspection, they discovered a secret space behind a false panel. Inside, a collection of weapons had been carefully hidden.

Weapons and ammunition recovered 

Police found several firearms and other dangerous items stored in the concealed area. These included pistols, revolvers, air guns, cartridges, and sharp weapons like a sword and knife. Officials said the total value of the seized items is around Rs 10 lakh.

"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," an official told PTI.

Surendra Panduranga Patil’s popularity 

Apart from his construction business, Patil has a strong presence on social media, where he has gained a large following and is known by nicknames like “Pookie Uncle” and “Pookie Don.” He had earlier come under scrutiny for recording a video inside a police office while posing with an official weapon.

Police said Patil had recently secured bail in another case. With this latest development, new charges have been filed against him under relevant laws.