Pune-based priest and his disciples became the victims of an elaborate kidnapping scheme, orchestrated under the guise of conducting a religious ritual in Karnataka. The incident has exposed the extent to which criminals are willing to go for ransom, targeting even religious figures.
The incident came to light when Bajrang Lande, a priest residing in Bibwewadi, Pune, was lured into traveling to Karnataka with his seven disciples on the pretext of performing a religious ceremony.
The kidnappers had approached Lande’s son, Swapnil, at their residence in Pune on July 29, claiming they required the priest's services to perform a deity installation ritual at Harshad Patil's house in Vijayapura, Karnataka. Trusting their intentions, Lande accepted the invitation and traveled with his disciples.
However, upon reaching their destination, the priest and his followers were held captive in a room. The kidnappers then contacted Lande’s family, demanding a hefty ransom of ₹5 crore for their release. Fearing for their loved ones’ safety, the Lande family reported the matter to the Bibwewadi Police Station.
The police launched an extensive investigation, utilizing technical methods to track down the location of the kidnappers. The investigation revealed that the accused were hiding in the Raichur area of Karnataka. With the cooperation of the Karnataka police, a special team was formed to apprehend the kidnappers.
Three suspects—Ramu Apparaya Valun, Datta Shivaji Kare, and Harshad Suresh Patil—were arrested in Raichur, and the priest and his disciples were rescued.
The police have since intensified their investigation to determine if more individuals were involved in the plot. Meanwhile, the arrested suspects have been remanded to police custody until October 5 for further questioning.
This operation was executed under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police R. Raja, Senior Police Inspector Mangal Mondhwe, and Crime Branch Inspector Manojkumar Londhe. Sub-Inspectors Ashok Yewale, Jyotish Kale, and Sumeet Takpere played key roles in apprehending the suspects.