Political influencer kidnaps two youths with help of his police brother

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

Crime Branch police have arrested Sandeep Bhausaheb Shirsath, a political party office-bearer who had contested the legislative assembly two times, for kidnapping two youths with the help of his police brother. Sandeep deployed 15-20 goons to beat them mercilessly and kept them captive for 15 hours and also threatened them of killing with a pistol. The hair-raising incident came to light on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the alert Crime Branch police traced and arrested Sandeep from Satara police station.

Sharad Bhavsingh Rathod (33, Chhatrapatinagar, Deolai) is a construction contractor. Six years ago, he met Abhijeet alias Bunty Berde (28). Abhijeet was an expert in grabbing government contracts. He was working for Shirsath, but due to harassment meted out by him, Abhijeet stopped working for him. Enraged Shirsath beat him and also threatened to harm him. In the meantime, Shirsath learnt that Abhijeet has started working for Sharad. On Saturday at 2 am, when Sharad was at Hotel Sai Swaraj on Beed Bypass, Shirsath, along with his police brother Mithun Bhausaheb Shirsath, Swapnil Gaikwad, and Harshal forcibly made Sharad sit in the Fortuner jeep and took him to their office in Sudhakarnagar.

They beat Sharad with a belt, wire, rod and kicks till the marks appeared on his body. They also snatched away his gold chain. Placing a pistol on the forehead of Sharad, they told him to call Abhijeet or Bunty at the hotel. When Bunty reached Deolai Chowk, Shirsath’s goons lifted and brought him to the office and beat black and blue. They took Sharad to his home and took all accessories, laptop and clothes of Bunty in their possession and then during early morning hours dropped Sharad in Deolai Chowk.

Contacted CP

When Bunty was not reachable by phone till 10 am, Sharad contacted the commissioner of police (CP) Praveen Pawar and narrated the whole incident to him. The CP directed the Crime Branch police inspector Sandeep Gurme to take action. Assistant PI Ravi Guchhe, PSI Vishal Bodkhe, Sandeep Solanke and Pravin Wagh launched a massive hunt for Shirsath. They visited his house and office. In the meantime, Shirsath learnt that the incident had reached the police. Hence he kept Bunty with him till 9 pm and threatened him of not lodging a complaint. He also videographed the statement. Later on, Shirsath took him to Satara police station and again threatened him to submit an undertaking that he had no complaint.

Police foil the plan

Police came to know that Shirsath is trying to give a different colour to the incident. When he was in Satara police station, Crime Branch police reached the police station. They separated Bunty from him and arrested Shirsath. When produced in court, he was remanded to police custody till April 11. Besides, the police also seized two vehicles used by Shirsath in the kidnapping.

Police background

Shirsath is the son of a policeman. His brother is associated with Kranti Chowk police station but is reported to be absent from duty for the past two years. Harshal’s father is a policeman and Rathod’s father is a retired PSI.