Pune: A labor union leader was caught red-handed by the Pune police while demanding a bribe from a construction businessman in a case of exploitation related to a worker's death.
The leader allegedly threatened to file a case of culpable homicide and stage a protest if his demands were not met.
The incident stems from a tragic accident on a construction site where a worker fell from a building and died.
The union leader, Namdev Bhimrao Ghorpade (44), reportedly approached the businessman and threatened to file a legal case under culpable homicide charges and initiate protests at the police commissioner’s office.
To avoid this, Ghorpade demanded ₹2 lakh but later agreed to settle for ₹1.5 lakh after negotiations.
The 28-year-old builder, realizing he was being extorted, reached out to the Bharati Vidyapeeth police station and lodged a complaint. Following the police’s advice, the businessman agreed to pay a part of the demanded amount—₹20,000 as an advance.
On Tuesday (September 24) morning, Ghorpade arrived at the Katraj Dairy premises on Satara Road at around 8:30 AM to collect the money. However, the police had already set a trap and were waiting.
As soon as Ghorpade accepted the cash, he was apprehended by officers from Bharati Vidyapeeth police station, who had been monitoring the situation. The alleged extortionist was arrested on the spot.
The police have launched an investigation into the matter to uncover further details about Ghorpade’s activities. Assistant Police Inspector Patil is leading the investigation.
