CITY Police have booked dreaded gangster Ranjit Safelkar and his accomplices, including Sharad alias Kalu Hatey, Bharat Narayan Hatey, Chhotu Bagde and Isak Maske, under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) on Thursday. Safelkar gang is involved in several cases of extortion and murders. Safelkar, who is already cooling his heels in the Crime Branch’s custody after being arrested with others for their involvement in killing a local goon Manish Shriwas, has been booked in a fresh case of extortion and cheating along one Jitendra Katariya, Kalu Hatey, Bharat Hatey, Vineet Anna and others by Juni Kamptee Police.

 

Katariya along with Safelkar and others had taken illegal possession of a building housing shops, two rooms and Sainath Dunlop Dhabha on ground floor and four rooms on the first floor at Mouza Khairi, khasra No 60/2. The property belonged to Duman Shrawan Pragat (51), his brother Mahesh Pragat, Aniket Pragat, Laxmibai Kashiram Pragat and Pankaj Pragat, all residents of Bhilgaon, Juni Basti, Naka No 2, Kamptee Road. Initially, Katariya had taken the shop for running the dhaba on rent but later refused to pay the rent. Safelkar gang, at the behest of Katariya, then started issuing threats to Pragat family demanding money for vacating the property. When Duman Pragat again requested Katariya to vacate their premises, the latter asked him to talk to Safelkar. Katariya then issued a legal notice to Duman Pragat through his lawyer Adv Harsh Kothari.

 

Duman Pragat had also lodged a complaint with the police and MSEDCL. After the electric connection was disconnected by the MSEDCL officers, Katariya had moved the civil court. Katariya then installed a board that the property on khasra No 60/2 belonged to Jitendra Prataprao Katariya to create an impression that it was a disputed property and also mentioned a fake court case No 694/2017. Katariya then took out a sword and threatened Mahesh Pragat. Safelkar then contacted Duman Pragat and asked him to come to his office. When he went there, Safelkar took out a gun and demanded Rs 50 lakh after threatening to kill him like Manish Shriwas. Due to fear, he gave them Rs 10 lakh. They asked him to give the remaining Rs 40 lakh within 15 days.

 

After coming to know that Safelkar, Kalu Hatey, Bharat Hatey and others were arrested, Duman Pragat lodged a complaint against them. On the basis of the complaint, Juni Kamptee Police registered a case under Sections 386, 448,420,323, 504 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against Safelkar, Katariya, Kalu Hatey, Bharat Hatey,Vineet Anna and others. Safelkar and his gang members were also allegedly involved in architect Eknath Nimgade murder case. City Police have appealed to all the victims of Safelkar and his gang to come forward fearlessly and lodge complaints with the Crime Branch.