Kidnapping Plot Foiled: Two Suspended Firefighters and Accomplices Arrested in Mumbai

In a shocking turn of events, two suspended firefighters from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation attempted to kidnap the son of a local builder for a ransom of ₹40 crore. The plot, however, unraveled as police swiftly intervened during negotiations.

Devidas Dattatraya Waghmare and Dattaray Namdev Pawar, both already facing charges for duping job seekers, orchestrated this daring kidnapping along with eight accomplices. Their intention was to secure a large sum of money to repay those they had defrauded and reclaim their jobs.

### The Kidnapping Incident

On Tuesday, around noon, the duo followed the 20-year-old son of builder Sanjay Shelke and forcibly stopped his car on Katai Road in Ambernath. One of the kidnappers brandished a gun, forcing the young man to video call his father and demand the hefty ransom. After abducting the victim, five members of the gang took him to a secluded forest area in Padgha, while Waghmare and Pawar remained in Ambernath to negotiate with the builder.

Unbeknownst to the kidnappers, Shelke had promptly alerted the police upon receiving the ransom demand. A rapid response team was assembled, comprising 100 officers led by Additional Commissioner Sanjay Jadhav and Deputy Commissioner Sudhakar Pathare. They quickly initiated an investigation, scouring 45 CCTV cameras in the area and conducting technical analysis on the kidnappers' mobile numbers.

 Police Action

The kidnappers initially demanded ₹40 crore, later reducing their ask to ₹7 crore, and eventually agreeing to accept ₹2 crore. They instructed Shelke to arrange an Ola cab to deliver the money. As police monitored the situation, they tracked the cab and employed additional vehicles to follow the money transfer.

During a critical moment, the abductors noticed police presence and attempted to change the drop-off location. However, the police maintained their pursuit, leading to a tense situation where the kidnappers claimed the victim would soon return home.

Ultimately, the police conducted a thorough investigation and were able to track down the victim, who had been abandoned near Pise Dam in Padgha.

 Arrests and Discoveries

The investigation led to the identification and arrest of key suspects, including Nikhil Rajusing Laban and Vinay Raj Advani, who were instrumental in the plot. Authorities recovered a KIA vehicle used in the kidnapping, along with various weapons, including a country-made pistol, an air pistol, a knife, and several mobile phones.

Waghmare and Pawar had previously defrauded job seekers out of ₹2.75 crore by promising them employment in the fire department. They believed kidnapping Shelke’s son would yield a quick solution to their financial woes and help them escape legal repercussions.

This bizarre and dangerous kidnapping plot underscores the lengths to which some individuals will go when cornered by their own misdeeds, and the swift actions of the Mumbai police highlight their commitment to public safety.