Nagpur: An alarming incident of extortion and assault took place at the annual Ganpati Mela in Ramnagar Chowk, behind Hanuman Temple in NIT Ground, Ambazari, Nagpur. The Mela, organized by Rajkumar Babulal Gupta (52) and his associates, was held with official permissions from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the police.
On the evening of September 15, around 8:30 pm, three individuals, identified as Satish Channe (32), Rahul Ingole (30), and Deva Shravan Sirsat (32), confronted Gupta, demanding a hefty sum of Rs 1 lakh in cash. Satish Channe, recently released from Pune’s Yerwada Jail, led the extortion attempt, threatening to shut down the Mela if their demand was not met.
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The trio further demanded control over the parking area at the event, insisting that their associates would collect parking fees. They issued a stern warning to Gupta, stating that if he interfered with their operations, they would physically harm him.
During the heated exchange, tensions escalated, and an unknown individual attacked Gupta’s son, inflicting minor injuries. The injured was promptly treated at Dande Hospital.
Following the incident, Rajkumar Gupta filed a formal complaint with the Ambazari Police. Acting on the complaint, the police swiftly apprehended Deva Shravan Sirsat, one of the accused involved in the extortion attempt. However, Satish Channe and Rahul Ingole remain at large, and efforts are currently underway to track them down.
The Ambazari police have launched a full-scale investigation to uncover further details surrounding the case and to ensure the safety of the Mela’s organizers and participants.
This incident has raised concerns about the security of public events in the city, despite obtaining necessary permissions from local authorities. The police are now working to restore order and ensure such incidents do not recur during future events.
