In a distressing incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, the Pimpri Chinchwad police have successfully apprehended two individuals who are believed to have deceived Rajendra Barpatte, the father of Flight Lieutenant Kunal.
Flight Lieutenant Kunal was tragically one of the passengers on the ill-fated Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft that went missing over the Bay of Bengal in 2016, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and sacrifice.
The accused individuals allegedly employed a fraudulent scheme to swindle Barpatte of a staggering Rs 39 lakh by leading him to believe that they would assist him in procuring land for the establishment of a technical education institute in honor of his late son.
The case was promptly reported to the Nigdi police station, which led to the immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR) on Thursday. The accused have been charged with offenses related to cheating and criminal breach of trust. As per the information provided by an official from the police station, the events unfolded between July 2017 and the previous month.
Rajendra Barpatte, a retired scientist who had been associated with the Central Institute of Road Transport, held aspirations of founding a technical and vocational education institute as a tribute to his son’s memory. The arrested suspects purportedly entered into a binding agreement with Barpatte, receiving a substantial sum of Rs 59 lakh from him. Out of this sum, Rs 10 lakh was allegedly disbursed to the original landowner, and an additional Rs 10 lakh was allocated for various administrative procedures.
Unfortunately, the accused failed to execute the necessary sale deed for the land, leading to an enormous loss amounting to Rs 39 lakh for Rajendra Barpatte. Following a thorough investigation, the two suspects were taken into custody on Thursday.
Flight Lieutenant Kunal was an invaluable asset to the Indian Air Force, serving as a flight navigator aboard the AN-32 aircraft during its routine flight from Chennai to Port Blair. Tragically, on the morning of July 22, 2016, the aircraft disappeared without a trace over the Bay of Bengal. Despite relentless search efforts conducted by the IAF, Navy, and Coast Guard, neither the 29 passengers nor any remnants of the aircraft were located. Flt Lt Kunal was associated with the 33 Squadron of the IAF transport squadron in the role of a navigating officer, leaving a void that can never be filled.
