Key Accused In Abduction And Murder Of Pune Builder Arrested By Rural Police
Key Accused In Abduction And Murder Of Pune Builder Arrested By Rural Police
Pune, January 9, 2025 – The main accused in the brutal kidnapping and murder of a builder from the Donje area has been arrested following a coordinated effort by the Local Crime Branch of Pune Rural Police and Haveli Police Station. The crime was reported under case number 260/2024, with charges including abduction, murder, and extortion.
The victim, Vitthal Sakharam Polekar, a construction contractor from Donje, Pune, was reported missing on November 14, 2024, after he failed to return home from his morning walk. His family had filed a missing person report, and an investigation was launched. It was later revealed that Vitthal Polekar had been kidnapped by Yogesh alias Babu Kisan Bhame, who had demanded a luxury vehicle (Jaguar) from him as extortion, threatening to kill Vitthal and his son if his demand was not met.
The investigation revealed that Yogesh Bhame, along with his accomplices, was involved in the crime. A white Swift car, which was seen near the victim’s house, led the police to Bhame’s location. Following a series of leads, it was discovered that Bhame had fled to Nashik, where two more accomplices, Shubham Sonawane and Milind Thorat, were arrested by the police with help from railway police in Jabalpur.
The key accused, Yogesh Bhame, had been evading capture until recently. With the help of confidential informants, the police traced his whereabouts to Kolhapur and later apprehended him near the Sarola Bridge on the Pune-Satara road.
Yogesh Bhame, along with his accomplices, is facing several charges including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, fraud, and illegal possession of firearms. The accused has been remanded in police custody for further investigation.
The arrest was made under the guidance of Pankaj Deshmukh, Police Superintendent, Pune Rural, and Ramesh Chopde, Additional Police Superintendent, Pune Division. The investigation is ongoing, with further proceedings to be conducted by the Haveli Police Station and Local Crime Branch.
