Maharashtra Doctor kidnapped by patient, gang; released after paying extortion of Rs 5.9 lakh

Maharastra: The Maharashtra control of organized crime Act (MCOCA) has been invoked by the Pune city police against a woman for allegedly kidnapping a doctor and extorting money from him. The act was initiated after an FIR was lodged at the Hadapsar Police Station by a doctor who stated that a woman posed as a patient came to his clinic for treatment; and later, she along with three other persons kidnapped him and threatened him of registering a false case against him.

The offenders have been identified as a member of a notorious gang which has been connected with extortion and several other crimes in the past. 

ALSO READ: Crime Branch to start investigation against Delhi Doctor for allegedly issuing fake certificates to convicts

According to the doctor, he was examining the accused woman who went there as a patient at Harpale Clinic in Fursungi area on May 31. During the check-up, suddenly she started shouting and 3 other people from outside entered forcibly into the chamber and accused the doctor of conducting prenatal sex determination. The doctor was allegedly kidnapped by them after that and they demanded 10 lakhs from him, however, he was released after paying 5.89 lakh, reports TIE.

After that, he lodged a formal complaint against the woman, a serving police constable Sameer Thorat, a self-styled journalist Pradeep Fasage and a man named Kailas Avchite for kidnapping him and for extorting money. 

During their investigation police found another woman a resident of Baramati to be the mastermind behind the extortion and kidnapping. The police also found that she is also the head of a crime syndicate that is involved in extortion, robbery, and kidnapping. In 2014, Baramati police lodged two offences of theft against her and her gang. In 2018, Barshi police invoked MCOCA against the gang and even in 2016 several cases were lodged against her and her gang reports Pune Mirror. 

Police confirmed that she was also present at the crime scene was booked under sections 364 (a) (kidnapping for ransom, etc) 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Police have also placed the other offenders under arrest.

A press release by Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Bachchan Singh on Thursday said "The key accused has been booked under MCOCA even in the past, but she managed to get out on bail and began committing offenses like kidnapping doctors and extorting money from them once again." After considering the proposal of crime branch officials, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Morale issued an order on Thursday to invoke MCOCA against the kingpin. Assistant Commissioner of Police Kalyan Vidhate has been given the responsibility of further investigation.