Extortion bid at gunpoint lands externee back in prison

Pune: The Samarth police on Thursday arrested an externed criminal for threatening a 26-year-old goldsmith with a firearm and attempting to extort Rs 50,000. The suspect and his accomplice also demanded Rs 10,000 per month as 'protection money' from the complainant.

The police team, led by senior inspector Rajendra Mohite, arrested Kunal Somnath Raval (25) of Nana Peth and booked his accomplice Akshay Akolkar (25). Akolkar, however, succeeded in escaping from the spot

Raval and Akolkar had been externed from the city limits about 10 months ago. The complainant owns a workshop at Ganesh Peth. On Wednesday, the complainant and his friend were riding on a two-wheeler in Rasta Peth area when Raval and Akolkar blocked their way.

"The duo threatened the complainant with a firearm and demanded Rs50,000 from him. The suspects also asked the complainant to give them Rs10,000, per month as protection money," Mohite said.

The goldsmith then approached police to lodge a complaint against the suspects. "Our team, comprising sub-inspector Nitin Atkare, rushed to the spot and nabbed Raval while Akolkar managed to escape," Mohite said.