Twist in kidnap tale

Police complaint says politician, her family abducted in Lonavala on eve of election, but leader submits affidavit denying kidnap

The hill station of Lonavala witnessed a politically motivated kidnap drama on the eve of a local election when Leelabai Wanjale, a newly elected Lonavala Gram Panchayat member, and her family were taken hostage by a gang of eight late on Monday night. At least, the police complaint says so.

The problem is Leelabai now claims she or her family was never kidnapped.

Leelabai, a candidate in the sarpanch election, her husband Chandrakant, daughter Suvarna (12), son Sachin (15) and father-in-law Damu were abducted near Lonavala at 8.30 pm, says the police complaint. "Leelabai and her family were shown a knife and forced to get into a Scorpio car," a police source said. "Later, they were released."

Suspect held
The Lonavala Rural Police even arrested a suspect, identified as Vishnu Damu Kale. A kidnap case was registered against seven more.

Leelabai's brother Ganpat Chagan Phatak (27) of Visaghar filed the police complaint. Assistant Police Inspector Nitin Thakre said, "The kidnap is a fallout of political rivalry. We have Kale's statement. We will soon arrest the other suspects."

Affidavit
Leelabai filed an affidavit at the tehsildar office yesterday, saying she had merely gone somewhere with her family and was not kidnapped.