Pune: A shocking case of kidnapping and ransom has been uncovered in Manchar, with the rural police crime branch team successfully apprehending a notorious criminal involved in the incident. The accused was found in possession of a locally-made pistol and two live cartridges.
According to a complaint filed by the victim, a doctor, Pravin alias Dollar Sitaram Owhal (32) from Wadal, Taluka Khed, Pune, was arrested in connection with the crime. Another accused, Pawan Sudhir Thorat, a resident of Manchar, had been arrested earlier by the police.
Both Owhal and Thorat are known habitual criminals with serious criminal records, including charges of murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms. While Thorat had already been arrested, Owhal had been evading capture, and the police had been actively pursuing him.
After two months of investigation, police received a tip-off that Owhal would be at the Alephata ST Bus Station. Acting swiftly, the police set up a trap and successfully apprehended him. During his arrest, a pistol and two live cartridges were seized. The Alephata police are continuing their investigation into the case.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Police Superintendent Pankaj Deshmukh and Additional Superintendent Ramesh Chopde, with efforts from the local crime investigation branch led by Police Inspector Avinash Shilimkar and officers Deepak Sabale, Akshay Navle, Sandeep Ware, Raju Momin, Mangesh Thigle, Vikram Tapkir, and Nilesh Supekar.
The incident occurred on January 4, when the victim doctor was traveling from Peth to Manchar on his motorcycle. Thorat and Owhal followed him, deliberately hitting the doctor’s motorcycle, causing him to fall. The criminals then kidnapped the doctor, took him to the Nighotwadi area, and brutally assaulted him. They demanded a ransom of 20 lakh rupees, threatened him, and fired a shot from a pistol. The criminals managed to extort 1 lakh rupees from the doctor before abandoning him in the Peth Ghat area. They fled in their vehicle, and the doctor later filed a complaint at the Manchar police station. Police Superintendent Pankaj Deshmukh visited the crime scene and issued instructions to arrest the accused.
Owhal has been presented in court, where the judge has ordered him to remain in police custody as the investigation continues.
