Pune: Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Patil has suspended Bhausaheb Namdev Khade, a police constable from the intelligence gathering unit of the police station here, for allegedly putting pressure on a complainant – who happens to be a police mitra (volunteer) – in connection with a brawl case registered at the Saswad police station.
The complainant has also alleged that Khade had demanded a bribe from the suspect involved in the offence of voluntarily causing hurt during a fight at Guroli village in Purandar tehsil recently. SP Sandeep Patil has handed over the inquiry into both the matters to Annasaheb Jadhav, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Bhor Sub-Division.
Inspector DS Hake informed that, since May 2020, complainant Arjun Raju Khedekar has been filing complaints at the Saswad police station against one Jalindar Hanumant Khedekar and his associates from Guroli village. Earlier, a complaint was also lodged over a land dispute between Arjun and Jalindar. Later, molestation cases were filed by female complainants from both the groups.
In July, Jalindar Khedekar and twelve others had beat up Arjun Khedekar over an old feud. While Assistant Inspector of Police Rahul Ghuge was investigating the case, complainant Khedekar demanded a change of investigating officer from the Superintendent of Police office. After that, the investigation came to Inspector Hake and while 5 out of 13 accused were arrested, complainant Khedekar and police constable Khade met at that time. Khedekar lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Patil regarding this meeting. Khedekar is known as police mitra (volunteer) at several police stations under the jurisdiction of Pune Rural police. Khedekar was also a friend of Constable Khade.
Regarding the complaint, Deputy Superintendent of Police Annasaheb Jadhav said, “In the complaint to the SP, Khedekar has said that constable Khade came to my house and pressurised me. He also demanded money. Khade, meanwhile, was suspended by the superintendent two days ago. Khade has been asked to report at the district police headquarters. We have started an investigation in this regard.”