Jalgaon youth kidnapped, robbed in city

Pune police have booked eight persons in an alleged case of extortion of Rs 25 crore. Ironically, the youth who foiled their attempt was also abducted and asked to cough up Rs 5 crore.

The victim, Mahendra Kashinath Patil (25) of Muktayinagar in Jalgaon, lodged a complaint with the Chandan Nagar police in this regard.

Cops have identified the accused, who are absconding, but only by their first names. Rahil Khan is touted to be the main accused, while the others were named as Bablu, RK, Tejas and Munna; three others are yet unidentified.

Cops said Mahendra is an online marketer, and some of the accused are also into the same business. Mahendra’s friend Dr Sandip Thosar, who is in the same line of work, had information that Rs 25 crore were being sent to Pune as payment of an extortion bid. Mahendra had then informed Jalgaon police.

Police said Mahendra came to Pune on April 29 and was put up at Connect Lodge in Kharadi. The accused allegedly learned about his stay in Pune and came to the city to confront him. Accused Rahil and others allegedly tied him up and gagged him before thrashing him. They also allegedly took him to various lodges in Kharadi, Saswad and Katraj on April 29 and April 30, where he was severely beaten up. They had demanded a sum of Rs 5 crore from him. Realising Mahendra did not have much money, they snatched his two mobile phones, a gold chain, bracelet, watch and a car, all worth Rs 3.67 lakh and dumped him at one of the lodges.

Mahendra then rushed to Chandan Nagar police station to file a complaint. Investigating officer, police inspector Krishna Indalkar said, “Mahendra knew about the deal and is also suspected to be a part of the group. The main accused is Rahil who plotted the deal. We are still trying to identify three accused and we will bust their racket soon. The name of one Sanjay Bhai of Panvel near Mumbai has also cropped up. We are trying to find out more about this person and his role in this case.”

Chandan Nagar police registered a case of dacoity under section 395 of the Indian Penal Code. — PMB