Pune Gangland: Criminal Connections in Focus as Police Probe Builder Nikhil Rane’s Murder
By India Crime Correspondent
PUNE, December 3, 2009
The aftermath of builder Nikhil Rane’s tragic death has prompted the city police’s Crime Branch to delve into the possible involvement of criminal syndicates in land transactions within Pune. The perplexing aspect of Rane’s case lies in the fact that even after purportedly paying Rs 10 lakh as ransom to the assailants, he was still fatally shot.
This enigmatic scenario has spurred a thorough investigation into the criminal elements intertwined with property dealings.
Additionally, authorities are exploring any connections these elements might have with the Mumbai underworld.
Rane’s Murder Sparks Inquiry
“The Crime Branch is engaged in a comprehensive examination of criminal syndicate activities in Pune in light of Rane’s murder,” revealed Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) A D Shinde in a statement to India Crime.
Shinde further elaborated on the ongoing efforts, stating, “We are collecting information about the influence of gangsters in property transactions. Despite the substantial number of property deals occurring in the city, builders have not yet reported extortion or life-threatening issues involving gangsters to the police.”
The Unfolded Tragedy
Recalling the unfortunate events, unidentified individuals fired at Rane as he was en-route to his office on JM Road.
Despite a week-long battle for survival, Rane succumbed to his injuries on Monday. Four gang members were arrested in connection with the case, including Sandeep Dicholkar associated with the Ashwin Naik gang, Dhananjay Dixit, Sandeep Rohidas Sangle, and Deepak Borkar.
Their alleged demand for ransom from Rane prompted a deeper exploration into the circumstances. The investigation revealed that Rane had indeed paid Rs 10 lakh to the gang on November 15, following a land transaction in Sus village, after the gang reportedly threatened his life.
Real Estate Association Responds
Confederation Of Real Estate Developers Association Of India (CREDAI), Pune, countered the notion of pervasive threats among builders in the city.
Rohit Gera, vice-president of CREDAI, Pune, stated that while the matter of Rane’s murder would be deliberated in upcoming discussions, there exists no general threat from the land mafia or underworld to builders in the city.
Trends of Violence in Land Deals
Rane’s case is the second instance in the past two months wherein a person associated with land dealings has faced gunfire.
Earlier on October 11, Ajay Bhosale, the Shiv Sena candidate at Koregaon Park from Wadgaonsheri constituency, also connected to land deals, was shot at by unidentified individuals on a motorcycle.
Police surmise that the attack stemmed from land-related disputes, potentially orchestrated by individuals linked to the underworld.
Unveiling the Presence of Underworld
The underworld’s influence in Pune is not a novel phenomenon. Records indicate that in April 2008, seven members of the Ravi Pujari gang were arrested in Pune for plotting an attack against a prominent builder.
Past instances also depict the involvement of Chhota Rajan and Arun Gawali gang members, who began their operations in Pune in 1996, attempting to extort money from local builders and business figures.
On the question of the expanding underworld presence in Pune, Shinde stated, “It’s too early to determine.
We have not found any evidence of underworld links in the Rane murder case. Furthermore, the motives behind the attack on Bhosale have yet to be verified.”
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