Pune businessman kidnapped, murdered by gang in Patna after being lured with fake offer

Speaking about the case, Sambhaji Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 3, said, “Our joint probe with the Patna police has revealed that this gang lures victims on the pretext of fake business deals. They are then kidnapped from Patna airport and taken to remote farms and extorted.”

The DCP said Shinde had discussions over the phone and by email with a person identified as Shivraj Sagi regarding a centrifugal casting business. “He was invited to Patna for the same. On April 11, Shinde travelled to Patna by flight. After landing, he spoke with his daughter. Later, she only received a few messages,” he said.

“One WhatsApp message received at 8.30 pm read, ‘I’m going to Jharkhand now in a coal mine in a plant 1200 feet down to see the machine and tool. Total 7 plants are there as Coal India Ltd run by Central Govt.’ After this, no further communication was established with Shinde. The missing person complaint was registered on the morning of April 12. Based on technical investigations, a police team was dispatched to Patna,” DCP Kadam added.

With the help of officers at Patna’s Airport police station, it was found that Shinde was kidnapped from outside the airport. Subsequently, the local police registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy and kidnapping, he said.

“Probe has revealed that Rs 90,000 were taken from the victim on online mode by the accused before murdering him. Initial post-mortem suggests he was strangled to death,” an officer said.

“Police teams from Nalanda, Gaya, and Patna then carried out search operations in nearby villages and Shinde’s body was found on April 14. The case is now being probed by the Airport police in Patna,” Kadam said.

Shinde is survived by his wife and two children.

“Twelve persons including the main conspirator have been arrested. Patna police have invoked BNS sections pertaining to murder by a group of five or more persons along with sections related to extortion and organised crime,” said DCP Kadam.

“Investigation suggests that the gang had fully studied the online presence of the victim and had also closely studied his business. Equipped with this, they were able to convince the victim to come to Bihar. The conspiracy thus also had a cyber aspect as they subsequently used emails, phone and social media to lure the victim on the pretext of a business deal,” said DCP Kadam.

“The victim was an alumnus of the College of Engineering Pune, COEP, and had been in the metal casting business for the past several years,” DCP Kadam added.