Rs 10 Lakh Extortion Plot Busted in Pune; Gang Threatened PMC Action, Say Police
Katraj, 28th June 2026: Bharati Vidyapeeth Police have arrested four persons, including the founder-president of Bhim Sangharsh Sanghatana, for allegedly demanding ₹10 lakh from a contractor by threatening to get his structures demolished through the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
The arrested accused have been identified as Vinod Nivrutti Gaikwad, Sangram Dattatray Sonawane, Sudhir Mugut Shedge, and Nilesh Baban Kumbhar.
According to police, the complainant had constructed a building and two houses for the Mamata Foundation near Huzurpaga School in Mangdewadi. The accused allegedly threatened to file complaints with the PMC seeking demolition of the structures unless ₹10 lakh was paid. They also allegedly issued death threats to pressure him into complying.
Acting on the complaint, Bharati Vidyapeeth Police laid a trap near Kinara Hotel in Katraj on June 24 and caught Gaikwad and Sonawane while they were allegedly accepting ₹50,000 from the complainant. Based on further investigation, the remaining two accused were subsequently arrested.
Police said the accused had earlier allegedly received a Titan wristwatch, ₹10,000 via Google Pay, and ₹5,000 in Sonawane’s bank account as part of the extortion.
A case has been registered under Sections 308(2), 308(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the operation, police seized cash, mobile phones, vehicles, and other property collectively valued at around ₹7.09 lakh.
Senior Police Inspector Mansingh Patil said the accused were produced before the court, which remanded them to police custody till June 29.
Assistant Police Inspector Ganesh Mohite is investigating whether the group used a similar modus operandi to target other builders, contractors, or property owners in Pune.
