25 August,2009 07:22 AM IST | | J Dey
Former constable arrested for kidnapping and other illegal activities
A former Crime Branch constable, who turned to a life of crime, was arrested by the Crime Branch after a long chase on Sunday night.
Shivaji Mane (38) was caught near Satkar Hotel in Vikhroli. Four choppers and a stolen Tavera with fake number plates were recovered from him, said Inspector Vinayak Vast.
The CB had launched a manhunt for Mane after he abducted two clearing and forwarding agents at Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai.
The kidnapping occurred on August 7 when Sharad Gaikwad and Kushal Chavan were intercepted by Mane and his associates, posing as Anti-Corruption Bureau officials.
Mane used his police ID card to stop the victims. They were then herded into the Tavera, which has now been seized. He demanded a ransom of Rs 25 lakh from eachu00a0 victim but after negotiations, agreed to let them go for
Rs 5.5 lakh, on the condition that they would pay the remaining Rs 19.5 lakh later. He was apprehended when he came to collect the remaining ransom.
Mane, a Ghatkopar resident, was suspended in 2004 for all his criminal activities. He has been named in over six cases since then.
His associates have been identified as Vinayak Adatrao, Anup Bishvas, Sanju Bhima Sanap, Vijay Ramchandra Mane and Shridhar Kudle.
