Pune: Five Arrested For Extorting Kharadi Spa Owner Using Fake Prostitution Allegations
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Kharadi, 17th May 2026: The Kharadi Police have arrested five individuals, including two women, for allegedly extorting money from a spa owner by falsely accusing him of running an illegal prostitution business. The police recovered cash and a vehicle worth Rs 70,000 from the accused.
According to the police, the incident occurred on the evening of May 13, 2026, at the “Feel Touch Spa” located in the City Vista Building in Kharadi. Three men and two women entered the premises and began threatening the complainant, claiming they would file a police case against him for operating a prostitution racket.
The accused initially demanded an extortion amount of Rs 2 lakh. When the complainant refused to pay, they physically assaulted him. Following a forced “compromise,” the amount was settled at Rs 1.5 lakh, of which the accused immediately took Rs 30,000 via an online transfer.
A case (C.R. No. 161/2026) was subsequently registered on May 14, 2026, under Sections 308(2), 308(3), 308(7), 115(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Given the gravity of the extortion case, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Somay Munde directed the Kharadi Police to expedite the investigation. Under the guidance of Police Inspector (Crime) Chandrasen Palakar, two dedicated teams led by Assistant Police Inspector Ravindra Godse and Police Sub-Inspector Rahul Kolpe were formed.
The teams analyzed CCTV footage and utilized confidential technical intelligence to track the suspects. Following a trap set at Kesnand Phata, Wagholi, the police apprehended the following suspects:
- Pratik Jaywant Gaikwad (31), resident of Kesnand.
- Vishal Ashok Salve (40), resident of Vishrantwadi, Yerwada.
- Rohit Nagnath Manjre (32), resident of Yerwada.
- Two women involved in the crime.
During the investigation, the police recovered Rs 30,000 in cash and a Honda Activa scooter used in the crime, totaling assets worth Rs 70,000. Assistant Police Inspector Ravindra Godse is conducting further investigation into the matter.
The operation was successfully carried out under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region) Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Somay Munde, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Lonikand Division, Addl. Charge Kharadi Division) Nutan Pawar.
The investigative team included Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Chavan, Police Inspector (Crime) Chandrasen Palakar, and Assistant Police Inspector Ravindra Godse and Police Sub-Inspector Rahul Kolpe. The team also comprised police personnel Manoj Kharpude, Mahesh Nanekar, Shrikant Shende, Sahebrao Gundale, Ashok Kedar, Shrikant Kodre, Suraj Jadhav, and Vilas Kedari.
