Actor Mushtaq Khan
Credit: Instagram/mushtaqkhanactor
Actor Mushtaq Khan, best known for his part in the Akshay Kumar's film Welcome, has talked about the terrifying experience of being abducted off the Delhi-Meerut highway.
On November 20, the actor was allegedly invited to attend an award show in Meerut, but things soon took a turn for the worse. In an interview with India Today Digital, his business partner Shivam Yadav described how the actor was duped into getting into a car that transported him away from Delhi.
Khan was given flight tickets and an advance payment to attend the event. When he landed in Delhi, he was picked up and driven to a secluded area near Bijnor. He was held for nearly 12 hours and was allegedly tortured. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one crore rupees, but were able to get only Rs 2 lakh from Khan and his son's bank account.
Khan heard the morning azaan, which made him realise there was a mosque nearby. He managed to escape his captors and seek help from locals. The police helped him return home safely.
Mushtaq and his family were deeply affected by the incident. But he was always certain that after he had composed himself, he would file an FIR.
Shivam has filed an official FIR in Bijnor. He said, "We have proof of the flight ticket, the bank accounts, and even CCTV footage near the airport. He also recognises the neighborhood, even the house where he was kept. I think the police team will surely catch the culprits soon."
Another similar incident that made headlines recently was the abduction of comedian Sunil Pal under the pretext of attending an event. However, reports have emerged that Pal might have been complicit in the kidnapping. Pal has denied these allegations.
These eerie similar incidents have raised suspicions of the possibility of a syndicate targeting celebrities to extort money.
Shivam added, “We had no clue about the case. After Mushtaq sir returned, we spoke about the incident with a few of our close friends. When Sunil’s case was highlighted in the media, they informed us about the same. It is shocking that two public figures from the industry had to go through a similar ordeal. We hope there is awareness and protection in the future for everyone."