Karan Kakad8217;s,feared abducted by model Simran Sood,BMW traced to Pune

In a potential breakthrough in the probe into the disappearance of aspiring producer Karan Kakad,the police have traced his BMW car to Pune

In a potential breakthrough in the probe into the disappearance of aspiring producer Karan Kakad 28,the police have traced his BMW car to Pune. Kakad had been missing since March 6 after he was allegedly kidnapped by three persons arrested in the Tikku murder case.

Officers from the Amboli police station have left for Pune to investigate the case further. On Saturday night,police received information from the Pune police that the car they had been tracing was found parked in a house at the Krishnakeval township in Kondhwa area. The Amboli police seized the car on Sunday morning.

On Thursday,Vijay Palande,Dhananjay Shinde and Manoj Gajkosh were booked by the Amboli police for abducting Kakad,who is originally from Delhi and had been staying in Mumbai for the last one year. The three accused were arrested two days ago by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch for their alleged role in the murder of Arun Tikku 62,who was found stabbed to death at his sons apartment in Lokhandwala on April 7.

On Friday,the Amboli police arrested model Simran Sood,a close associate of Palande,for her alleged role in abducting Kakad,who has been missing along with his car,gold ornaments,iPod,mobile phone and laptop,collectively valued at Rs 45.44 lakh. The police fear he may have been murdered.

We have not found Karan or his body yet. However,we have learnt that Palande left the car with an acquaintance on March 9, said Pratap Dighavkar,Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 9.

Police said a local resident had informed them about the car when he saw the numberplate being flashed on television. The car was found parked outside a bungalow occupied by a person identified as Rahul Shinde,who has now been detained. The police are probing Rahuls connection to Palande and whether he is involved in the abduction.

We are now investigating whether Palande had other gang members in Pune, said a Crime Branch officer probing the Tikku murder case. The investigation into Kakads abduction will also be handed over to the Crime Branch.

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Officers said the Mercedes car seized from Palande following his arrest was registered in the name of a Vasai resident. When the police visited the listed address,it was found to be fake. The police now fear Palande might have killed the owner of the car too.