Extortion in name of dahi handi,4 held

The police have arrested four members of a Hinjewadi Dahi handi mandal on charges of extortion after they allegedly forced people to give wargani for the festival.

The police have arrested four members of a Hinjewadi Dahi handi mandal on charges of extortion after they allegedly forced people to give wargani (voluntary contribution) for the festival.

The arrested are Sagar Sakhare,Shrikant Sakhare,Jivan Jambhulkar,Ganesh Borkar,all residents of Hinjewadi and members of Chang Bhale group Dahi Handi Mandal. The police complaint was filed by RM Pillay,37,of Pashan,an employee with the Group 4 private security agency in Aundh.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Dnyaneshwar Chavan said the suspects had been booked under Section 384 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code. The Dahi handi mandal members were forcing the Group 4 private security agency to give them a wargani of Rs 25,000.

Police inspector Mahadev Chavan said the suspects had gone to the Aundh office of Group 4 in a jeep around 1 pm on Wednesday. They demanded a wargani of Rs 25,000 from Pillay for the festival. They abused Pillay when he refused to pay the amount. Pillay had told them that he did not have the money with him. One of the suspects gave his mobile number to Pillay and asked him to call him later to collect the money.

The suspects had also allegedly manhandled a person at Pillay’s office before leaving. Pillay approached the police later and filed a complaint. The cops arrested two members of the group Sagar and Shrikant on Wednesday evening,while the other two were arrested on Thursday morning. They have also seized the jeep they were using for collecting wargani.

The suspects were later produced in the court,which remanded them in magisterial custody.

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