Two held for attempt to extort money

The duo was arrested by a team of city police Crime Branch comprising inspector Sunil Tambe and constables Deepak Mate,Sharad Jadhav,Ganesh Gaikwad,Sandip Patil,Sharad Jadhav,Kiran Khude and Sachin Gawli.

A 21-year-old woman and her mother filed a complaint with the Crime Branch on Monday evening. Inspector Tambe said the girl was getting threats calls on her cell phone for the last four days. The person calling her threatened that he would make a derogatory video of her and release it in public. He said it would defame her and her family and then demanded Rs 50 lakh from her. Police said the woman had recorded the two calls made by the suspects on her mobile phone.

As per the instructions by police,the victim continued her communication with the suspects and told them that she had arranged Rs 20 lakh. The suspect then asked her to come to Mitramandal Chowk near Swargate with the money.

The woman’s mother went to the spot with the money. Police laid a trap at the spot and nabbed Pawar while accepting the money on Tuesday.

Further investigation revealed that Pawar went to the Mitramandal chowk as per the instructions of his accomplice Atul,who is believed to be the mastermind. Police then arrested Atul from Pune railway station.

Police said Atul was working as a driver for the complainant. He was aware of the financial status of the complainant and hatched the plan to extort money from her. The suspects would be produced before the court on Wednesday. Police have seized their cell phones.