The Pimpri Chinchwad in Maharashtra have arrested five men for allegedly kidnapping a Pune businessman and demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakh, officials said on Tuesday, reported the PTI.
According to the police, the accused, all residents of Uttar Pradesh, had abducted the businessman from the Rahatani area on Monday and escaped in a SUV. After the kidnapping, the victim’s family informed the police, who quickly formed multiple teams to trace the suspects.
The kidnappers reportedly contacted the businessman’s family and allegedly demanded Rs 50 lakh as ransom, threatening to kill him if the amount was not paid to them.
During their communication with the victim`s family, the suspects instructed to bring the money to Ale Phata on the Pune-Ahilyanagar border in Maharashtra, officials said, according to the PTI.
Trap laid by cops
The police said that a team of officials analysed the technical surveillance which suggested that the accused were travelling towards Uttar Pradesh in an SUV. Based on this information, officers set up a trap near Ale Phata and alerted the Ahilyanagar Police.
Another police team also set up surveillance near Sangamner in Ahilyanagar district to intercept the suspects.
Victim dropped, accused held
Officials said the kidnappers later released the businessman near Chandanapuri Ghat in Ahilyanagar district, apparently after becoming nervous about the police operation and knowing their whereabouts.
Shortly after the release of the businessman, a police team intercepted the suspects and arrested the five accused near the Sangamner toll plaza on Monday evening, reported the PTI.
The kidnapped businessman was rescued safely and later reunited with his family.
Insider role suspected
Police said a sixth suspect, identified as Santan Chauhan from Uttar Pradesh, is believed to have provided information about the businessman to the kidnappers. He had reportedly worked with the victim earlier, as per the PTI.
Weapons and vehicle seized
During the operation, police seized two country-made firearms, six live cartridges and a car, with a total value of around Rs 18 lakh.
Officials said further investigation is underway to identify the full extent of the conspiracy, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)