Botched Abduction Sparks Ramdaspeth Panic

Nagpur: A botched effort to recover money from a 28-year-old man by thrashing him, ripping apart his clothes, and whisking him away in a car by two men and a woman triggered panic among onlookers of posh Ramdaspeth area on Friday. Later, police promptly solved the riddle by forcing the kidnappers to release the victim, Mahavir Kothari, and surrender.
Police sources stated Kothari's monetary dispute seemed to have triggered the kidnapping scare in Ramdaspeth area at around 5.30 pm, when several evening strollers, especially senior citizens had stepped out to buy vegetables from local vendors. One of them alerted the police control room, paving way for police action.
Sources stated the alleged abductors rammed their car into Kothari's scooter, tossing him onto the road. The two men, identified as Salman Khan Pathan and Azhar Khan Pathan, along with a woman, Pinky, reportedly grabbed Kothari and thrashed him. Kothari, who was supposed to repay Rs 1 lakh to the trio, was forcibly whisked away in the car. His clothes were torn, and his shoes remained on the road along with his helmet, scooter, and belongings. The scooter was also left behind. Sitabuldi police reportedly took two hours to shift the scooter from the crime site. The Pathans were brothers, said police, adding it was being checked to ascertain whether any past offences were registered against them.
Sitabuldi police managed to contact the car owner with help of their vehicle's number plate. The three had crossed Wadi and were headed to Amravati, when police managed to establish contact with them. At the time of going to the press, police said the process of registering an offence of kidnapping against the Pathan brothers and the woman was underway. Zonal DCP Rahul Madane stated the money recovery bid turned into a kidnapping case for which coercive actions have been initiated.
Sources stated Kothari is a resident of Darwha in Yavatmal, from where he shifted to Amravati. It's learnt he accepted money from several persons on the pretext of helping them receive govt schemes and benefits. Kothari could not bring any assistance from any govt scheme for those who gave him money. As pressure mounted, Kothari first shifted to Amravati and then to Ramdaspeth in Nagpur, where he was intercepted and kidnapped.