Pune: Namaskar Pratishthan president Nikhil Shinde and Siddharth Ranpise arrested for extorting Rs 5 lakh from hoteliers in Katraj

Pune: Two persons have been arrested for extorting Rs 5 lakh from hoteliers in the Katraj area by threatening to complain against them to the State Excise Department and the District Collectorate.

The incident took place from May 2024 to June 13, 2024 in Katraj within the jurisdiction of the Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station.

Vishwanath Padmnabh Pujari (57), a resident of Katraj, lodged a complaint on Thursday (June 13). The arrested accused have been identified as Nikhil Sunil Shinde (30), president, Namaskar Pratishthan and Siddharth Rahul Ranpise (28), both residents of Sahakar Nagar. A case has been registered under sections 384, 385, 386, 506, 34 of the IPC.

According to the police, the complainant runs ‘Junction Bar’ in the Katraj area. Shinde and Ranpise visited restaurant and bar owners in the Katraj Chowk area. They told the hoteliers that parking space was not provided by the businessmen and were running their businesses illegally. They threatened the traders that complaints would be registered against them with the State Excise Department and the District Collectorate.

The accused demanded Rs 2 lakh each from the hoteliers. They also issued death threats if ransom was not paid. The complainant and other hotel owners approached the Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station and lodged a complaint. Shinde and Ranpise were arrested by setting a trap.

Under the guidance of Sr PI Dashrath Patil, PI Sharad Zine, PSI Dheeraj Gupta is investigating the matter.