Maharashtra: Palghar builder's staff member kidnapped, given electric shocks; 2 booked

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Police have registered a case against two persons for allegedly kidnapping a 19-year-old man working at a Palghar builder's office, beating him up and giving him electric shocks in Maharashtra's Palghar town, an official said, reported news agency PTI.

One of the accused used to seek 'protection money' from the Palghar builder.

On Monday, the accused went to the office of the Palghar builder and demanded Rs 25,000, the official from Palghar police station said, reported PTI.

The builder, who was at home, refused to fulfil the demand following which the accused allegedly kidnapped a staff member of the former, he said.

When the Palghar builder later reached his office, he found the staff member crying. The victim told him that the accused person and another unidentified man allegedly kidnapped him, took him to a house where they beat him up and also gave electric shocks, the official said, reported PTI.

When the victim raised an alarm, some persons from the neighbourhood rushed there and rescued him. The victim then went to the builder's office, he said, reported PTI.

Based on a complaint by the builder, the police on Monday registered a case against the two accused under Indian Penal Code sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 342 (wrongful confinement), 364A (kidnapping a person and threatening to cause death or hurt), 386 (extortion by putting any person in fear of death or of grievous hurt), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation), the official said.

In another incident, police have arrested two vendors following the death of a 19-year-old man after eating 'chicken shawarma' bought from their stall in Mumbai, an official said, reported PTI.

The deceased, identified as Prathamesh Bhokse, bought the food item from the stall of the accused in Trombay area on May 3, the official said on Tuesday, reported PTI.

On May 4, Bhokse suffered from stomach ache and vomiting and went to a municipal hospital nearby to get medical treatment, reported PTI.

He later again felt unwell following which his family members took him to the civic-run KEM Hospital on May 5.

A doctor treated him and sent him home, the official from Trombay police station said.

As the man continued to be unwell, he was on Sunday evening again taken to the KEM Hospital where a doctor examined him and admitted him, reported PTI.

The hospital authorities then reported the matter to the police who registered an FIR against unidentified persons under Indian Penal Code sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 273 (sale of noxious food or drink), the official said.
The man died on Monday, he said.

The police subsequently arrested the two food vendors - Anand Kamble and Ahmed Sheikh - and booked them under various IPC sections, including 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), the official said, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)