Pune Doctor Abducted and Extorted for Rs 19 Lakh in Shocking Kidnapping Case
The Pune rural police have made a significant breakthrough in a distressing kidnapping case. They arrested four individuals, including the victim's own car driver. The gang allegedly abducted a doctor and forced him to pay a hefty ransom of Rs 19 lakh.
Details of the Arrests and Accused
Police officials confirmed the arrest of Rajendra Chhagan Rajguru, aged 32. He worked as the car driver for the victim. His three accomplices are Santosh Somnath Bankar (36), Datta alias Gotu Balu Aher (34), and Sunil alias Sonu Murlidhar Magar (30). All four hail from Paithan in the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district of Maharashtra.
Sequence of the Kidnapping Incident
The victim, Dr. Vitthal Kisan Chowdhary, is 58 years old and resides in Kunjirwadi, Haveli taluka, Pune district. On the night of January 10, he was traveling from Uruli Kanchan to Kunjirwadi via the Pune–Solapur highway. Rajguru was driving his car at the time.
Around 10:15 PM, another vehicle intercepted Dr. Chowdhary's car near Inamdar Wasti. Four men exited the other car and forcibly entered the doctor's vehicle. They threatened him with a knife and abducted him. The kidnappers then drove towards Shindavne village in the doctor's own car.
Extortion and Payment Demands
The accused assaulted Dr. Chowdhary and demanded money for his release. Under duress, the victim contacted his family members. He managed to arrange Rs 4 lakh for the kidnappers. After receiving this amount, they released him but issued a further threat. They demanded an additional Rs 15 lakh, warning they would kill him if he failed to comply.
Fearing for his life, Dr. Chowdhary paid the Rs 15 lakh on January 12. The transaction occurred at a location in Chaufula village near Daund. The following day, on January 13, he approached the police to report the crime.
Police Investigation and FIR Registration
After verifying the complaint, police registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Uruli Kanchan police station on January 14. The case includes charges under sections 140(2), 140(3), 126(2), 127(2), 115(2), 117(2), 351(3), 308(2), 308(3), and 3(5) for kidnapping and extortion. Superintendent of Pune rural police, Sandeep Singh Gill, ordered a thorough probe into the matter.
Teams from the Uruli Kanchan police station and the Local Crime Branch (LCB) were formed to track down the accused. During initial questioning, Rajguru's behavior aroused suspicion. Sustained interrogation revealed his involvement in the crime, leading to his arrest on January 16. Police subsequently arrested the other three accused.
Court Proceedings and Recoveries
A court remanded all four accused to police custody until January 20 for further investigation. LCB police inspector Avinash Shilimkar provided this update. Authorities have recovered the car used in the kidnapping. They also seized Rs 7.8 lakh in cash from the arrested individuals.
Background of the Accused and Ongoing Probe
Police inspector Sachin Wangade of the Uruli Kanchan police station shared additional insights. Rajguru had previously worked as a car driver for Dr. Chowdhary about three years ago. He left the job but rejoined just five days before committing the offence. The investigation uncovered that Rajguru conspired with his aides to kidnap the doctor and extort money.
Wangade noted that accused Sunil Magar is a history-sheeter with three past criminal cases registered against him. Police are actively searching for three more persons believed to be involved in the crime. Assistant police inspector Dnyaneshwar Bajigare is leading the ongoing investigation.
