In a significant development, the Nanded rural police on Tuesday produced seven accused before a local court in connection with the alleged abduction of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) office-bearer Jeevan Patil. The court has remanded them in three-day police custody for further interrogation.
Political Storm Over FIR Allegations
The case, registered late on Monday, has sparked a major controversy. The First Information Report (FIR) names a sitting NCP MLA, his son, and a former Congress MLA as alleged conspirators behind the kidnapping. However, police officials have clarified that no direct evidence currently links these political figures to the crime.
Nanded Superintendent of Police Abinash Kumar emphasized an evidence-based approach. "An FIR has been registered based on the victim's complaint. Seven people directly involved in the abduction have been identified through CCTV footage and other technical evidence, and arrested. At this stage, there is no material linking the named political figures to the crime. All angles are being verified," stated the SP.
Details of the Abduction and Arrests
According to the police complaint, Jeevan Patil, a 47-year-old Maharashtra pradesh secretary of the NCP, was abducted on Monday morning from the Cidco area. His car was intercepted by an SUV. CCTV footage reportedly shows a group of men forcibly dragging him into their vehicle.
In his detailed statement to the Nanded rural police, Patil claimed he was assaulted, blindfolded, threatened at gunpoint, and driven around for nearly two hours before being abandoned at an isolated location. He alleged the motive was linked to an outstanding financial sum of Rs 2 crore that he was seeking from the named MLA and the former MLA regarding previous dealings.
Inspector Omkant Chincholkar of the Nanded rural police station confirmed the arrests. "The victim has given a detailed statement describing the assault, threats, and the sequence of events. The accused were arrested after verification and produced before court on Tuesday," he said. The accused were identified in the presence of the complainant and his driver.
Political Denials and Police Investigation
The implicated NCP MLA has strongly denied any involvement, calling the allegations "baseless and absurd." He alleged a political conspiracy, pointing out that BJP office-bearers were present at the police station during the FIR filing. "The FIR was registered under pressure. I am open to any kind of inquiry," he told media. The former Congress MLA also refuted the charges.
The police have invoked a total of nine sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Indian Arms Act against those named in the FIR. Authorities indicated that further arrests and additional charges would depend on evidence gathered during the three-day custodial interrogation of the seven accused.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police focusing on verifying all claims and gathering concrete technical and eyewitness evidence.
