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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, July 26: The Thane divisional chief of Akhil Bharatiya Sena, Arun Gawli gang8217;s political arm, has been arrested on extortion charges. He was picked up on Friday morning from a readymade garment manufacturer8217;s house, where he had gone to collect the money, after the merchant8217;s wife locked him up in a room and called the police.
Deputy Commissioner of Police zone-I Archana Tyagi said Prashant Pratap Bhosale was arrested by the Wagle Estate police for threatening and demanding Rs 10 lakh from Padmanabhan Shetty who runs a small factory manufacturing ready-to-wear clothes. However, investigations later revealed that Bhosale did not have any cases against him and this was perhaps his first attempt at extortion.
By this time Shetty had gained some confidence and on his wife8217;s advice he lodged a complaint with the Wagle Estate police station, which is very close to their Bhattwadi residence.
Senior Inspector Raosaheb Pote told Shetty to alert the police if Bhosale showed up again. When Bhosale turned up on Friday at 8.30 am, Shetty asked him to come inside and offered him tea. He then called his wife and handing over a bunch keys to her spoke something in Kannada. Bhosale, a Maharashtrian, presumed that those were the cupboard keys and she was being asked to get the money. But Mohini locked the drawing room from outside and called the police. Soon Shetty8217;s residence 8211; Sadhana building 8211; was surrounded from all sides.
Police later found that Bhosale was a jobless youth and had met Gawli on a few occasions. Though he had landed himself the ABS district chairmanship, he had no money. He was, in fact, desperateto buy a tempo Trax jeep which he thought was necessary for him to carry out his duties.
