A 58-year-old Pune-based doctor, Dr. Vitthal Kisan Chaudhary, was allegedly kidnapped and extorted of ₹19 lakh in ransom money after being abducted while traveling with his driver on a highway near Uruli Kanchan in Pune rural district. Pune Rural Police have arrested four men in connection with the case, including the doctor’s own driver, who is accused of conspiring in the plot.
According to police reports, Dr. Chaudhary, a resident of Kunjirwadi in Haveli taluka, was traveling from Uruli Kanchan to his home on the night of January 10, 2026, in his car driven by Rajendra Chhagan Rajguru (32). While on the Pune–Solapur Highway, near Inamdar Wasti, another car intercepted their vehicle shortly after 10:15 p.m. Four men reportedly exited the other vehicle and forcibly entered Dr. Chaudhary’s car at knifepoint.
Police allege that the men threatened to kill the doctor and abducted him to demand ransom. The accused first took an initial ₹4 lakh before dropping him near Chaufula on January 10 and demanding an additional ₹15 lakh for his safe release. Fearing for his safety, the doctor’s family paid the remaining amount on January 12. Dr. Chaudhary then approached police the following day to lodge a complaint.
After investigating Dr. Chaudhary’s complaint, Pune Rural Police registered an FIR for kidnapping and extortion at the Uruli Kanchan Police Station on January 14, 2026. Police formed teams from the local crime branch and Uruli Kanchan station to trace the suspects.
The first suspect arrested was Rajguru, the doctor’s car driver, whose behavior during questioning raised police suspicion. Sustained interrogation led to his confession and identification of three accomplices: Santosh Somnath Bankar (36), Datta alias Gotu Balu Aher (34), and Sunil alias Sonu Murlidhar Magar (30). All four men, residents of Paithan in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district, were remanded to police custody by a court until January 20 for further investigation.
Police recovered the white Ertiga vehicle alleged to have been used in the abduction and approximately ₹7.8 lakh in cash from the accused as part of the investigation. Further efforts continue to identify additional suspects believed to be involved.
Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing, with further inquiries into how the plot was devised and executed, including the involvement of trusted individuals such as a personal driver.
(Rh)
