CCB arrests gang of six for abducting realtor for extortion

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials on Monday arrested a gang of six, including four rowdies, for allegedly abducting a 25-year-old realtor to extort ₹2.9 lakh from him.

The prime accused and the victim who are friends had a financial row, which led to kidnapping for ransom, the police said. The accused, identified as Rajesh alias Puppi, Srinivasa alias Seena, Lokesh Kumar, Naveen Kumar, Somaiah, and Yukesh, have been arrested based on the complaint of the victim, and charged under kidnapping and extortion. Four among them are rowdy sheeters and have been taken into custody to ascertain if they are involved in similar crimes, the city Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh, said .

According to the police, the victim Manoj Kumar, had lent ₹1.2 lakh to the prime accused a year ago. The accused had borrowed the money on the pretext of giving it to a Kannada movie director, which is being verified, the police said.

After a year, Manoj started demanding Rajesh to return the borrowed money. Unable to return the money, Rajesh allegedly decided to abduct him and extort more money from him.

He roped in his friends and called Manoj Kumar to Modi circle on August 26 pretending to give the money. The accused later took Manoj in a car, allegedly tortured him and forced him to transfer ₹2.9 lakh to their account. The accused also allegedly demanded ₹10 lakh for his safe release and dropped him in Jnanabharati campus the next day after he promised to get the money.

The victim narrated the ordeal to his family and friends, who asked him to approach the police, based on which he filed a complaint with the CCB.