History-sheeter nabbed

PUNE, MAY 6: A history-sheeter, who allegedly owed alliance to slain gangster Pradip Sonavane, was on Monday arrested on charges of abductin...

PUNE, MAY 6: A history-sheeter, who allegedly owed alliance to slain gangster Pradip Sonavane, was on Monday arrested on charges of abducting a 28-year-old businessman from Chatuhshrungi area and extorting him to the tune of Rs 1,700.

The arrested history-sheeter, Dhananjay R Shinde of Bahiratwadi and his absconding accomplice Kaluram K Dhumal, had allegedly abducted Siddhartha Kharat from the Shivaji Housing Society near Chatuhshrungi after taking him away at gunpoint in broad daylight on April 28.

However, the incident did not come to light immediately as panicked Kharat did not approach the police though he managed to rescue himself while taking advantage of the inebriated condition of the kidnappers on the same day.Fearing harm, Kharat remained tight-lipped and lodged a formal complaint with the Chatuhshrungi police only last afternoon.

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The complaint stated that Kharat was walking down near the Shivaji Housing Society around 2 p.m. on April 28 when Shinde and Dhumal whisked him away in an autorickshaw.

Kharat claimed that the abductors restrained him in a room where the two abductors beat him up with sticks and relieved of Rs. 1,700 in cash. They also threatened to murder Kharat and his brother if the businessman lodged a complaint against them. Later on the same day, Kharat found his captors in an inebriated condition and rescued himself, the complaint stated.

About a fortnight prior to the abduction, Kharat’s complaint stated, the duo had demanded a ransom of Rs. 40,000 and allegedly threatened to murder Kharat and his brother if he failed to pay the ransom.

A team of Chatuhshrungi police, led by Sub inspector Balasaheb Kutwal, launched a major hunt to track the alleged abductors after Kharat lodged the complaint. Acting on a tip off, the police raided an isolated place near Chatuhshrungi temple and arrested Shinde. A country-made revolver and some live cartridges were also seized from him. However, Dhumal is yet to be arrested, police said.

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Kharat, who resides at the Ashanagar Housing Society, is an interior decorator. Shinde, has been an accused in four serious crimes including a murder reported from Deccan Gymkhana and Chatuhshrungi areas since 1990. He was externed from city limits due to involvement in criminal activities, police said.