Nagpur: At the peak of increasing organised crime rate in Nagpur, yet another case of kidnapping and extortion has come to the fore, in which a liquor trader ended up losing Rs 10 lakh. The victim Prashant Bajrang Ambatkar, 36, resident of Manish Nagar, owns liquor shops at few places including Butibori. He was kidnapped at gun point on August 26 and was later released in the wee hours of August 27 after he paid Rs 10 lakh to the perpetrators.
A case has been registered in Ambazari police station. Ambatkar has been allegedly receiving threat calls from the dreaded gangster Gulam Nawaz Sheikhu who has been asking for extortion. As Ambatkar refuses to give ‘hafta’, he was on Sheikhu’s target.
On August 26, when Prashant was going out somewhere, Sheikhu and his accomplice Suraj Chaudhary, Shiva and others intercepted him on the stretch between Shankar Nagar square and Ram Nagar. The accused blindfolded Prashant and forced him into a car and drove away towards Wadi, Waddhamna and other areas. He was also kept hostage at a house and was asked for ransom of Rs 10 lakh from him. They also beat him up and threatened that they would killing him if he did not relent to their demand.
As per the complaint, Prashant was later forcefully taken to his residence in the wee hours of August 27 at around 2 am. Upon reaching home, Prashant allegedly handed over Rs 10 lakh to Sheikhu in lieu of his release.
Interestingly Sheikhu’s act of taking ransom from Prashant was allegedly captured in a CCTV installed at his house. The car in which he was abducted was also seen in the camera.
Prashant was allegedly so petrified with the incident that he fell sick and had to be admitted to the hospital. After he was discharged from hospital, he took up the matter to Upper Police Commissioner Nilesh Bharne and Deputy Commissioner Gajanan Rajmage of crime branch. On Wednesday a case was registered in the matter.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Sheikhu along with his aides has fled to Mumbai. The crime branch will be going to Mumbai in search of Sheikhu. Sources said that Sheikhu and his gang have been booked under MCOCA. Sheikhu has also got criminal offences registered against him previously which include a murder, two cases of attempt to murder and various other offences of extortion. He was also externed from the city.
