Two arrested, minor held over armed attack on Baramati businessman Rana Suryavanshi

Police have come across startling information in their probe into the armed attack on Baramati entrepreneur Rana Dilip Suryavanshi. They suspect a contract of Rs 2 lakh was given to carry out the attack. Parth Vasudev Avthale (19) and Dnyandev Mahadev Shinde (50) have been arrested in the case. A minor boy has also been taken into custody. The incident has caused alarm in business circles in Baramati and the surrounding areas.

After the attack, police stepped up the investigation to trace the accused. Pune city police detained Parth Avthale and a minor boy in conflict with the law, and later handed both over to Pune rural police. According to police, questioning and technical investigation showed that Dnyandev Shinde had given Rs 2 lakh for the attack. On this basis, both were arrested. The court has sent them to police custody till October 23.

According to early information from the probe, Suryavanshi had come to the Baramati area with his convoy. Two men on a motorcycle then introduced themselves as his fans and said they wanted to take a photograph. Using this pretext, one of the attackers came close and drew a pistol. The pistol is reported to have jammed, so no shot was fired.

When Suryavanshi then resisted, the attacker struck him with a sharp weapon, the investigation has found. A police bodyguard at the spot tried to catch the accused, but in the scuffle one of them bit him on the hand and the accused fled.

Suryavanshi owns Rana Shipping Company, and his business extends to Goa as well as Maharashtra. Police are now trying to establish whether anyone else was involved in the crime.