Garment trader held hostage for 9 days, denied food and water for not paying dues

Jitendra Joshi was kidnapped from Shri Sai Towers on September 29 and kept in a godown in Sonale village in Bhiwandi for nine days; seven have been arrested for the abduction.

Seven people were arrested for allegedly holding a Bhayander-based garment trader hostage and assaulting him for nine days because he did not pay around Rs12 lakh in dues. Jitendra Joshi, 32, was allegedly starved of food and water for three days.

The main suspect, Gajanan Harad, another garment trader, was arrested after named by Joshi’s mother and brother when they registered a kidnapping case with the Bhayander police. (Representational Photo)

According to the police, Joshi was kidnapped from Shri Sai Towers on September 29 and kept in a godown in Sonale village in Bhiwandi. He was rescued by the Thane rural local crime branch on Sunday.

The main suspect, Gajanan Harad, another garment trader, was arrested after named by Joshi’s mother and brother when they registered a kidnapping case with the Bhayander police. According to an official, Joshi owed Harad Rs12 lakh since February. The police traced Harad through call records and on Sunday raided the godown.

The other suspects — Avdut Shelar, Mayuresh Mhatre, Yatish Desai, Prathmesh Walawalkar, Varun Agrawal and Ramesh Yadav — have been charged with kidnapping and assault.