The city police have launched search for Congress corporator Deepak Mankar, builder Sudhir Karnataki and nine others who were booked for forcibly acquiring a property in Shukrawar Peth by threatening the owner Yeshwant Vasudev Natu (63) and his wife Sulabha.

A complaint was lodged at the Khadak police station on Saunday. Police inspector S B Ohol said that teams have been dispatched to various places for nabbing Mankar and other suspects.

Yeshwant Natu has lodged a police complaint against Mankar, Karnataki, former corporator Datta Sagare, Sadhana Vartak and also against his four relatives Avinash Natu, Suhas Natu, Balwant Natu, Srinivas Natu and three more persons.

Interestingly, Yeshwant's mother Vijaya Natu, accompanied by other members of Natu family held a press conference on Monday. "Yeshwant has given false complaint against four family members. Yeshwant has been troubling the other members of Natu family since many years," Vijaya said.

A relative, Nirmala Natu, said, "The property in Shukrawar Peth was owned by all the members of Natu family. We willingly sold our part of the property to Karanatki. It was a fair deal and we were out of picture after got our money from Karnataki. We don't know anything about Deepak Mankar," she said.

Police said that Karnataki had given a demand draft of Rs 1.25 crore to Yeshwant for purchasing the property. Yeshwant has however alleged that the deal was forced on him.

According to the complaint, a gang of about 40 persons threatened Yeshwant Natu and his family members at their residence in 1322, Shukrawar Peth on February 26, 2008. Yeshwant has alleged that they were asked to meet corporator Mankar at the Congress Bhavan. He has also alleged that he and his family were forcibly taken to the registrar's office on March 10, 2008. Inspector Ohol said that his team would be visiting Congress Bhavan for investigation.

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