Ahmedabad, July 14: Nasvadi police in Gujarat’s Chhota Udepur district arrested petrol pump owner Harish Kumar Kandani and his accomplice Dhiraj on Friday, following a complaint by fuel tanker driver Dhaval Tarbada (28) alleging abduction and extortion. Tarbada accused Kandani and three others—Suresh and Popat, who are still at large—of confining him at the petrol pump from July 8 to 10, stripping him, assaulting him with sticks and urinating in his mouth.

According to the Indian Express, Tarbada claimed the accused urinated in his mouth and demanded Rs 15 lakh, accusing him of fuel theft. Kandani allegedly contacted Tarbada’s family, demanding jewellery or land transfer as compensation for the alleged theft. Tarbada was reportedly held without food, water, or clothes until July 10, when Kandani handed him clothes and left him at a junction in Naswadi. Ahmedabad: Man Drinks ‘Godfather’ Beer Inside Police Van Near Sabarmati Riverfront in Dry State Gujarat, Video Surfaces.

Kandani and the others face charges under sections 140 (2) (abduction), 308 (2) (extortion), 127 (7) (wrongful confinement), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and 54 (abettor present when offence is committed) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Gujarat: Mother’s Female Friends Force Minor Boy to Strip, Touch His Private Parts in Ahmedabad; FIR Registered After Teen Narrates Ordeal to Father.

In a counter-complaint, Kandani accused Tarbada of breaching trust and stealing Rs 6.51 lakh by pilfering fuel during transit from Vadodara to Chhota Udepur. Kandani alleged that after six months of fuel depletion at the pump, his manager, Jaydeep Solanki, suspected theft. Solanki followed Tarbada's tanker on June 26 and allegedly caught him pilfering fuel. When confronted, Tarbada allegedly threatened Solanki.

Kandani claimed that Tarbada had admitted to the theft and agreed to compensate the pump owners with Rs 6.51 lakh. However, as the compensation was not paid by July 11, Kandani sought police action. Tarbada has been charged under sections 316 (criminal breach of trust) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of BNS.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2024 04:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).