Mandre: Vinod Patekar, who was earlier arrested for a theft at the Hanuman Temple in Madhalamaj, Mandre, has once again been taken into custody—this time for allegedly harassing and assaulting witnesses involved in the case.
The original incident occurred a few months ago when valuables were stolen from the temple. Patekar was arrested on theft charges, and three individuals from Mandre village were named as witnesses in the case. However, after being released on bail, he reportedly began threatening those witnesses and even physically assaulted one of them.
In response, the Hanuman Temple Committee and concerned villagers lodged a formal complaint at the Mandre police station. Acting on the complaint, Mandre police re-arrested Patekar.
Speaking out against the repeat offense, local residents issued a stern warning. “If such incidents occur again, we will not remain silent. This man should be expelled from the village. Anyone supporting him will also face consequences,” said a community representative.
The situation has sparked strong outrage in the village, with residents demanding stricter legal action to ensure the safety of those who stand as witnesses in criminal cases.