Nagpur: Cracking down on a honey-trap racket, Ajni police arrested three youths for allegedly luring a 23-year-old aspiring businessman through repeated calls from a woman and robbing him at knifepoint. As per the complaint, the accused robbed the man of ₹2 lakh cash, gold and silver jewellery, an iPhone, a laptop, a motorcycle, — totalling around ₹4.5 lakh.
The incident took place at around 1pm on Friday at Kukde Layout under the jurisdiction of Ajni police station. The complainant, Yuvraj Tiwaskar (23), a resident of Bhandara district and currently staying in Butibori, was planning to start a garment business. According to police, Tiwaskar was repeatedly receiving calls from an unknown woman. On the day of the crime, she insisted he meet her at Kukde Layout.
When Tiwaskar reached the spot, he was surrounded by the accused — Manish Chaudhary (23), Tarun Rangari (23), and Akshay Chaudhary (23) — who threatened him with a knife and snatched valuables, including a 5gm gold ring, a 12gram gold chain, and a 30gram silver bracelet.
The gang first forced him into an autorickshaw and later shifted him into a car belonging to Akshay Chaudhary. They drove him to his rented house in Butibori, where they forced him to hand over ₹2 lakh cash. Acting on Tiwaskar's complaint, Ajni police used CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and the registration details of the car to track down the accused. Later, the cops arrested Manish Chaudhury, Rangari, and Akshay Chaudhary. Two other key accused — Gaurav Ragde and Roshan alias Bhavesh Warkhade (22) — are still absconding.
Police have identified Ragde, a hardened criminal with cases of murder and attempt to murder, registered against him, as the mastermind of the crime. He allegedly provided his mobile phone to a woman who made the calls to lure the victim.
"The woman is also under the scanner. Ragde's arrest will lead us to her identity," a senior police official said.
