Pune: A court of judicial magistrate (first class) here on Monday (February 1) has issued orders to attach properties of proclaimed absconder and alleged 'RTI activist' Ravindra Barhate.
Barhate has two flats in Madhu Sudha Apartment in Lullanagar at Kondhwa. He also owns an open land plot and a bungalow at the Sargam Society on Taljai Pathar at Dhankawadi. Another land plot owned in Katraj is also owned by Barhate in partnership. All these five properties are seized as per the court order.
The court has issued the orders under section 83 (attachment of property of person absconding) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Kothrud police had on December 28 requested the court to issue orders for attaching Barhate's property. Barhate was declared as a proclaimed absconder by the court on October 3, 2020.
Police have said that they are also finding out details of other properties owned by Barhate and those properties will also be seized as per the court orders.
Barhate who is wanted in several extortion and land grabbing cases registered at different police stations in the city. Kothrud police have appealed to citizens to share any information regarding the whereabouts of Barhate.
Recent investigation into several land grabbing and extortion cases has revealed that Barhate along with other accomplices including dismissed cop Shailesh Jagtap, ex-journalist Devendra Jain and 10 others were involved in these serious offences.
A total of 14 FIR’s have been registered against them at various police stations in Pune city and rural areas. Barhate and his accomplices were also booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Barhate had applied for anticipatory bail in the Shivajinagar District and Sessions court at Pune, Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in Delhi. His application has been rejected by all the courts and since then he is on the run. Builders Sudhir Karnataki and Rishikesh Bartakke had lodged separate cases against Barhate and his accomplices at the Kothrud and Samarth police station respectively.