Agriculture officer, two others held for duping couple

AMRAVATI: A deputy superintendent of agriculture and a clerk attached with agriculture department, Morshi were among three arrested for duping a couple on the pretext of giving job. Frejarpura Police arrested deputy superintendent Arun Mahalle, clerk Hemant Yawle and Keshav Vidhale.

Two years ago the agriculture department had carried out a recruitment drive for filling up the post of clerks. Hemant demanded Rs 8 lakh from his 'good friend' Milind Panekar to give a job to his wife Shilpa Panekar. Milind, who works with a private company, showed his inability to pay the sum. After negotiations, the deal was fixed at Rs 6 lakh. Milind assured Hemant to give the money in instalments. He accordingly paid the first instalment of Rs 1.60 lakh to Hemant two years ago.

Later, Hemant demanded Rs 2 lakh which Milind again paid. But after several months when Hemant did not show up, Milind contacted him and inquired about the job. Fed up with his calls, Hemant contacted deputy superintendent of agriculture Arun Mahalle, and told him that he would give him Rs 1 lakh if he tells Milind that his work is in progress. Mahalle agreed to cheat Milind and took the money from Hemant.

Mahalle too demanded Rs 2.15 lakh from Milind, saying that he would help in getting his wife the job at the earliest. Milind gave money to Mahalle and waited for some months, but when he did not get any news about the recruitment, he started calling Mahalle repeatedly. Mahalle then showed his inability to give the job. Faced with no other option, Milind thought of lodging a police complaint.

When Hemant learnt that Milind had made his mind to lodge a complaint against him, he cooked up a plan against Milind with the help of his father-in-law Keshav Vidhale. As per their plan, Vidhale complained to police that Milind has kidnapped his son-in-law Hemant. Taking cognisance of Keshav's complaint, police called Milind for inquiry and Milind narrated his plight and showed police proofs of how Hemant had duped him and his wife of Rs 5.75 lakh. Police then lodged a complaint against Arun Mahalle, Hemant Yawle and Keshav Vidhale under relevant Sections of IPC.

The three accused were produced in court on Thursday, which granted police custody of the trio till September 24.

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