New Delhi, July 24
The Mumbai Police rescued an Ahmedabad-based garment trader who was abducted by a gang over a failed business deal.
The victim was identified as Hemant Rawal (30), who owns garment business in Ahmedabad.
He was allegedly kidnapped by a friend and business associate. The prime accused was identified as Kapuri Ram Ghanchi, of Rajasthan who was his friend. Ghanchi's co-accused have been identified as Prakash Pawar, a mobile store owner, and Ganesh Patra, the owner of a flower shop.
Ghanchi owns two shops in Kondhwa in Pune. During the Covid pandemic, Rawal's business faltered, and he failed to deliver the goods as promised to Ghanchi. In 2021, Ghanchi had paid Rs 30 lakhs to Rawal for a supply of readymade clothes, but the deal was not fulfilled.Rawal then allegedly ceased communication with Ghanchi. He discovered that the trader was in Mumbai. He then conspired with friends from Pune to kidnap him.
The police stated that on July 21, when Rawal was walking on the road with friends after visiting a bar in Kalbadevi area, he was forcibly taken into a car and driven to Pune. The accused thrashed him on the road and shoved him in the car and fled.
The victim's friend alerted police, LT Marg police station grabbed the accused through CCTV footage, and identified the Pune-registered vehicle. The Mumbai polcie alerted all stations as well as Pune police. They were traced in Pune and police rescued victim from Ghanchi's shop in Kondhwa.
Rawal was safely rescued and suffered injuries to his face due to the assault. Ghanchi was arrested while his accomplices fled from the spot.
The accused have been booked under relevant sections for kidnapping, causing hurt, and the Maharashtra Police Act.
