Pune: In a shocking incident near Ranjangaon Ganpati, Shirur Taluka, illegal encroachment on a man's land, followed by theft and extortion of ₹1 crore, has come to light. The culprits installed ownership boards on the encroached land and used JCB machinery to steal soil.

A case has been registered against Gangeshwar Dattatraya Sonawane and Sandeep Sudam Kute at the Ranjangaon MIDC Police Station.

According to the police, the land near Ranjangaon Ganpati, Shirur, belongs to Ganesh Pachundkar. Gangeshwar Sonawane encroached on this land and put up boards claiming ownership.

When Ganesh questioned him about it, he was abused and threatened. On July 27, Gangeshwar Sonawane and Sandeep Kute used a JCB to excavate and steal soil from the land. When

Ganesh confronted them about the theft, they demanded one crore rupees or 25 gunthas of land in return for peace. The culprits abused and threatened Ganesh, saying he would continue to face harassment otherwise.

Ganesh Bapu Pachundkar, 35, resident of Pachundkar Vasti, Ranjangaon Ganpati, Shirur Taluka, Pune, filed a complaint at the Ranjangaon MIDC Police Station.

Following this, the police registered a case of extortion, encroachment, and theft against Gangeshwar Dattatraya Sonawane and Sandeep Sudam Kute, both residents of Fundvasti, Ranjangaon Ganpati, Shirur Taluka, Pune.

The investigation is being carried out by Police Sub-Inspector Shivaji Mundhe under the guidance of Police Inspector Mahadev Waghmode.

Recently, the state government has issued an ordinance approving the establishment of new regional offices for the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and the creation of new positions to staff these offices.