Pune businessman allegedly abducted over Rs 7 lakh debt rescued after chase on expressway

A 43-year-old businessman was allegedly abducted by four men in Pune over a dispute about a Rs 7 lakh loan. Alankar police rescued him on Wednesday, October 28, after a chase on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. Police blocked traffic near the Panvel exit, surrounded the vehicle, freed the businessman and arrested one accused. The other three suspects left the highway along the way and fled.

The case began at around 12.11 pm. Alankar police received a call through the Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) from Deepashree bungalow in Kothrud. Police constables Chavan and Londhe reached the spot with other personnel. The caller, Vinay Prakash Pavtekar, said four unknown men had forced a man into a black and mehendi-coloured Mahindra Scorpio (MH01 EF1182) and driven towards Kothrud.

A police marshal began chasing the vehicle and informed the police station. Senior Police Inspector Ulhas Kadam formed a team of police constables Shelke, Yadav, Sonawane and Gonarkar to find and stop the vehicle. It soon emerged that the Scorpio was heading towards Mumbai via Karve Road, Chandani Chowk and the Bengaluru-Mumbai highway. Police alerted the Pune city police control room and senior officers.

Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Sagar Kavade, police from Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune rural and Raigad, along with traffic police and highway safety staff, set up blockades along the route. The Alankar team was on the expressway when word came that the Scorpio had turned towards Mumbai on the old Pune-Mumbai highway. The team had already crossed the Khalapur toll plaza, so it turned back and chased the vehicle. The highway safety team at Khalapur was also asked to stop it.

The accused allegedly ignored police warnings, broke through toll plaza barriers and sped towards Mumbai. The Alankar team kept up the chase and alerted Navi Mumbai police and highway safety personnel to block the road. Finally, near the Panvel exit, the Scorpio was boxed in by traffic jammed in front of and behind it. One accused was caught, the abducted man was rescued unharmed and the vehicle was seized.

Senior Police Inspector Kadam said: "During questioning, the arrested accused allegedly told police that the other three men got off the highway along the way and fled. Efforts are on to trace them."

According to police, the abduction was allegedly over a money dispute. Complainant Kedar Jayant Wangikar had allegedly arranged a Rs 7 lakh loan from the accused for two of his friends. When the friends did not repay the amount on time, accused Sameer Gulab Shaikh allegedly abducted Wangikar and threatened to kill him. Wangikar is 43 and runs a catering and lending business.

On his complaint, Alankar police registered a case under Sections 140(2), 127(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Kadam said: "The arrested accused was produced in court and sent to police custody until October 31. He is now in judicial custody." Police Sub-Inspector Amol Mane is investigating the case, and the search for the three absconding accused continues.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Rajesh Bansode (Western Region), DCP Sagar Kavade (Zone 3) and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sujata Tanawade (Kothrud division). The team included Senior Police Inspector Ulhas Kadam, Police Inspector (Crime) Smita Patil, SPO Talole and police constables Shelke, Yadav, Sonawane, Gonarkar, Vishal More, Londhe and Chavan, along with staff of Alankar police station.