Cops go soft on gangland kidnapping, register case on chief’s intervention

Nagpur: Maya gang’s mentor Sumeet Chintalwar, despite being an externee, allegedly orchestrated kidnapping of 28-year-old Arjun Chettiar from latter’s home on Nandanvan main road on December 16 to extract information about whereabouts of rival Anshu Awasthi as part of ongoing gangwar in east Nagpur. Chintalwar wanted to eliminate Awasthi.
The role of Nandanvan police is also under scanner as they had gone soft on the issue on Monday registering only a non-cognizable case against the dreaded goon. Despite Chettiar narrating their plight to the cops, the duty officer of Nandanvan police refused to file an FIR.

Sources stated city police chief BK Upadhyay, after learning about laxity in the action taken so far, cracked the whip on Tuesday leading to registration of kidnapping offence against Chintalwar and three accomplices. Apart from Nandanvan police, crime branch too apparently knew of the kidnapping following which they issued notices to some persons whose names are now cropping up including BITS’ gang mastermind Swapnil Salunkhe, Chintalwar’s close aide Rahul Karlawar and some others.

Chintalwar’s Maya gang now seems to be the toughest challenge for city cops as Hinganghat-based gangster Tinu Gawli too has joined them to pursue common interest of smuggling liquor to Wardha, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli. Despite being an externee and having been nabbed for violations, Chintalwar keeps moving around in city with his gang.

Police said Chettiar claimed to have received a call from Gaju Wanjari, who has murder cases against him, summoning him to NIT garden in front of New Nandanvan Women’s college at 3.30 pm. As Chettiar stepped out of his home, three unidentified persons on a bike approached him. Threatening him of dire consequences, the three escorted him to the garden. Chettiar drove to the garden with three persons escorting him.

Chettiar claimed Chintalwar joined the gang at the garden where they beat him up behind a temple. Chintalwar, having several offences including murder, threatened Chettiar for helping his rival Awasthi with his car. Chettiar was also asked to summon Awasthi. Chintalwar vowed to bump off Awasthi in the coming days. The victim was also told by Chintalwar his vehicle would be set on fire if he again gave it to his friend Awasthi.

TOI had already reported about the ongoing rivalry between Maya gang’s Chintalwar, Shiva, Golu and others with their former aides Meer Mishra, Saurabh Dhage, Awasthi and others. Taped conversations of the two factions using serious threats to each other are in possession of TOI. Crime branch last week had foiled a gang war by acting upon Mishra and Dhage while their rival Chintalwar had managed to give cops a slip.

It is learnt through police sources that Salunkhe of BITS gang too was present, Chettiar named only the externed goon as responsible for kidnapping and assault. According to Chettiar, Salunkhe was trying to intervene for a peaceful settlement. Salunkhe, earlier named in a case of murder but acquitted, had last year come under limelight when a senior cop had asked crime branch to set him free in a case of assault on police personnel saying he was not present. It is learnt Salunkhe is close to some cops from Nandanvan police station.

Nandanvan police are yet to arrest the externed goon and his aides.