Hunt for two more in Alstom abduction case

The four persons arrested in the abduction case of Alstom managing director Rathin Basu have been charged with kidnapping for ransom while the manhunt for the two absconding accused continues, police said on Tuesday.

The arrested — including mastermind Akhand Pratap Singh — have been charged with kidnapping for ransom and were sent to 14-day judicial custody, Meerut deputy inspector general K Satyanarain said on Tuesday.

Three police teams have also been constituted to search the absconding accused in Meerut, Bulandshahr and nearby areas, he said.

In Noida, senior police official Surinder Kumar Yadav said Awdesh and Rakesh, who are on the run, could not be traced till late evening.

Basu, 50, India head of French multinational engineering group Alstom SA, was kidnapped along with his driver on Friday and was rescued from Meerut on Saturday.

Three of the kidnappers — Sanju, Naresh and Narendra — were arrested on the same day of rescue while Singh was arrested on Monday.

Sanju, Naresh and Narendra were produced before a local court in Meerut on Saturday while Singh was produced before a Noida court on Monday.

Yadav said Noida Police will be taking the three kidnappers arrested in Meerut into their custody for further interrogation.