Driver Threatened for Refusing Monthly Extortion
Rs. 5,000 monthly demand for carrying passengers near Wakad Bridge; accused booked for assault and death threats
Wakad, October 16: Wakad police have registered a case against a 28-year-old man for allegedly assaulting a car driver, demanding a monthly payment of Rs. 5,000 to carry passengers near Wakad Bridge, and threatening to kill him if he approached the police.
The accused has been identified as Shubham Vishal Dudhbhatte (28), a resident of the Bhujbal Chowk area in Wakad, Pune. According to the police, the complainant, Shivraj Mahalappa Hegde (30), a driver residing in Sadgurunagar, Ganesh Colony, Bhosari, originally from Kodoli in Satara district, was standing with his Ertiga car (registration number MH 12 SU 3736) on the road outside the Dolphin Travels office near Bhujbal Chowk at around 5 pm on October 13, 2026.
The accused allegedly abused Hegde and assaulted him with kicks and punches. According to the complaint, the accused demanded Rs. 5,000 every month from the driver for carrying passengers from the Wakad Bridge area. The accused also allegedly threatened to kill the complainant if he lodged a police complaint. Hegde further alleged that the accused had previously threatened him and collected between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 12,000 from him in cash and through online payments as extortion money. Following the complaint, Wakad police registered a case against the accused. Police Sub-Inspector Karande is conducting further investigation.
