Irked with the shop owner's snub after he refused to give them Rs 1,000 as donation for a local dandiya function, the accused abducted and held him hostage before robbing him of his phone and cash
Faraskhana police have arrested two youths on extortion charges after they barged into a local businessman’s shop, and demanded money for a local dandiya function in Budhwar Peth area.
Police identified the accused as Aniket Ratnakar Ajrekar (20), of Vishnupura wada in Budhwar Peth and Abhijit Vitthal Ghanawade (22), of Vijaynagar in Sadashiv Peth.Amar Panchugopal Maji (43), a resident of Budhwar Peth, has lodged the case against the duo.
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Police inspector Bhanupratap Barge, and Assistant Police Inspector Geeta Bagawade made the arrests. Hemant Dabi, an accomplice of Ajrekar and Ghanawade, is still at large and cops have launched a manhunt to trace him.
All three youths belong to the Apte College Boys group and also work for a local builder who has vested interests in the Vishnupura wada, said Barge.
“The suspects had demanded Rs 1,000 as ‘dandiya vargani’ from Maji, but he had refused to give them the money. Agitated over his refusal, the accused entered Maji’s shop and started abusing and beating him up. One of his employee’s, Arun Buniya, was targeted in the attack.
The trio then kept Maji hostage in a vacant room in the Vishnupura wada, and later forcibly took away his mobile phone and cash from his pocket,” Barge said.
“The suspects are involved in local prostitution rackets, and are also connected to a local builder who has vested interests in the Vishnupura wada property.
The residents in the area had also earlier complained about the nuisance created by the youths in the wada. Ajrekar also has a molestation case registered against him a month before,” Barge said.u00a0
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