An NCP leader was allegedly abducted and assaulted over a ₹2 crore financial dispute in Maharashtra’s Nanded district, following which police arrested seven persons, officials said.
Victim Jeevan Ghogare, former leader of opposition in Nanded Municipal Corporation, accused MLA Prataprao Chikhalikar, who represents Loha assembly seat in the district, of masterminding the attack.
Mr. Chikhalikar, who also belongs to the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, rubbished the claim, calling it a political conspiracy.
The complainant was targeted on Monday afternoon in Dnyaneshwar Nagar area while he was traveling in his Innova car, police said on Tuesday (Dec 23, 2025).
A group of people in Stír allegedly detained him, pelted his vehicle with stones and forcibly dragged him into their SUV, he said.
After the police came to know about the incident, they launched a search. However, Mr Ghogare contacted the police and claimed that he was not abducted but had voluntarily gone to the shop. The police sensed foul play and continued their search.
Mr Ghogare was later found abandoned and injured. He told police that his captors forced him at gunpoint to falsely claim he was safe.
Seven people have been arrested in connection with Ghogare’s kidnapping and assault, the official said. They have been identified as Shubham Sunewad, Rahul Dasarwad, Kaustubh Ranveer, Vivek Suryawanshi, Madhav Waghmare, Mohammad Afroz and Devanand Bhole.
Mr. Ghogare also alleged that sitting MLA Chikhalikar and a former legislator were behind the attack, which he said stemmed from long-standing financial transactions and political rivalry. He claimed that he and his family received death threats from these leaders.
Mr Chikhalikar denied the allegations saying he had nothing to do with the incident.
“This is a political conspiracy. I have been busy with election duties and counting for the last three days and am currently attending the Malegaon fair. I only came to know about it through the media. I am confident that the police investigation will bring the truth to light,” he said.
Published – 24 Dec 2025 10:45 IST
