4 arrested for abducting Mulshi village sarpanch

PUNE: Four persons were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly kidnapping the sarpanch of Dasve village in Mulshi and extorting Rs 47 lakh from him. The police have recovered Rs 1.5 lakh from one of the suspects.
On Sunday, five persons on three motorcycles had allegedly intercepted sarpanch Shankar Dhindale on Karve Road and kidnapped him and his driver Rangnath Chougule at gunpoint.Dhindale was released after the suspects took Rs 47 lakh from his flat in Dhayari.
The suspects have been identified as Akshay Bhalerao (20) of Mutha village, Sagar Ranawade (25) of Paud and Sharad Sathe (24) and Pravin Diwade (20), both from Sutardara in Kothrud.
Bhalerao was arrested by the anti-dacoity cell of the crime branch led by inspector Satish Govekar, while Ranawade was arrested by the anti-extortion cell lead by inspector Sachin Sawant. Other two suspects were arrested by a team from Warje Malwadi police station led by inspector Sunil Darekar.
Inspector Govekar, who arrested Bhalerao following a tip-off, said: "We have seized Rs 1.5 lakh from Bhalerao, which the gang had extorted from Dhindale."
Bhalerao's elder brother Alok is also a main suspect in the case. "We are searching for other suspects," Govekar said.