Pune: Policeman Posted for Security at Bopdev Ghat Robs Youths; Suspended After Extortion Incident
Pune : In a shocking incident, a police constable deployed for public safety at Bopdev Ghat has been suspended after allegedly threatening and extorting money from three youths. The officer, who was stationed at the newly established police help center following a recent gang rape incident in the area, is accused of misusing his position by intimidating tourists and demanding money under the threat of filing false cases against them.
The suspended officer has been identified as Vikram Laxman Vadtile, while a case has also been registered against his associate Kedar Jadhav. Following the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr. Rajkumar Shinde immediately suspended Vadtile. The case is currently being investigated by Inspector Navnath Jagtap.
According to the FIR filed at Kondhwa Police Station by a 19-year-old youth from Chennai, the incident occurred on the morning of June 5 between 7:00 and 9:30 am at Bopdev Ghat. The complainant was visiting the area with two relatives when they were stopped by Vadtile, who was on night duty at the police help post.
During a search, a hookah pot was found in their bag. Using this as a pretext, the officer allegedly assaulted them and falsely accused them of smoking hookah at the location. He then forced the trio into his Tata Nexon car, drove them to the main gate of the police station, and later to Sassoon Hospital, where he threatened to ruin their future and demanded ₹25,000 from each of them.
As the victims couldn’t pay that amount, he lowered the demand to ₹10,000 each. Eventually, a total of ₹28,000 was paid via Google Pay to Kedar Jadhav’s account. When the victims later approached the Kondhwa Police Station to file a complaint, the amount was returned to them.
Following this, senior officers Assistant Commissioner of Police Dnyaneshwar Godse and Senior Inspector Vinay Patankar visited the scene and confirmed the validity of the complaint. Prompt disciplinary action followed, leading to Vadtile’s immediate suspension.
