Cops nab history sheeter with who had threatened businessman with guns over financial dispute

Meanwhile, Nikhalje’s accomplice Om Sanjay Gaikwad (26), also a resident of Mangalwar Peth, was also arrested in this case.

A 31 year old businessman, resident of Ambegaon, had lodged the first information report (FIR) in this case at the Bharati Vidyapeeth police station, against Nikhalje and three others on November 15, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 140(2), 127(2), 351(3), 352, 3(5) and sections of the Indian Arms Act.

Police said the complainant is the food products business. He came in contact with Nikhalje through a common friend in 2009. Gradually, the complainant and Nikhalje became good friends.

Meanwhile, towards the end of 2023, the complainant got a telecom company tower contract and around the same period he decided to get married to a woman from Mangalwar Peth, who was residing in Nikhalje’s neighbourhood.
Police said Nikhalje opposed the complainant’s marriage and also demanded money from him for getting the telecom company contract. But the complainant refused to give any money, which led to a dispute between him and Nikhalje.
Police said on the night of November 11, Nikhalje and his accomplices allegedly abducted the complainant in a car and took him to Bhor road at Kapurhol Phata.

Nikhalje then allegedly threatened to kill the complainant by pointing two pistols at his head, saying “Tell me, with which pistol should I shoot you…” Nikhalje’s accomplices also threatened to attack the complainant with a sharp weapon.
After receiving a complaint in this case, the Bharati Vidyapeeth police team launched a search for Nikhalje and other accused. A team of policemen Mahesh Baravkar, Mangesh Pawar, Mangesh Gaikwad, Kiran Sable and Abhinay Chowdhary nabbed Nikhalje and Gaikwad on November 20.

Senior police inspector Rahul Khillare, “We have seized two pistols from Nikhalje, who is a notorious criminal on police record. He had procured the pistols from firearms racketeers in Umarti village. Our staff was involved in the raid against the illegal firearms manufacturing units in Umarti. Further investigation is on.”

During the raid carried out in Umarti on Saturday, a team of about 105 policemen from Pune, led by deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Somay Munde, destroyed about 50 kilns used for moulding and production of illegal weapons, at four illegal firearms manufacturing units. Besides, the police seized five country made pistols, two live cartridges, four empty cartridges, five magazines, 100 raw barrels, five finished barrels, 14 grinding machines, 15 pistol bodies, six sawing material and five choppers.