JOIN USThe Cubbon Park police said the victim, Krishnamurthy (55), was a resident of Mattikere and worked as an Assistant Executive Engineer attached to Indiranagar Sub-division.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs five lakh from Kumuda, the wife of the engineer, and instructed her to bring the cash to the parking lot of the Town Hall.
Twisting tales
Around 5 pm on Tuesday evening, the office car dropped the engineer to MG Road near the KSCA club house junction. Krishnamurthy asked the driver to leave the office files and bag at his house and also told him to inform his family that he will be coming home late.
By 7 pm, Kumuda received a call when the callers identified themselves as Lokayukta sleuths. They told her that her husband was trapped and demanded Rs five lakh for his release. Kumuda was convinced as the kidnappers made Krishnamurthy speak to her.
After a few hours, she received a call asking her to bring the cash at a designated slot.
The family members managed to arrange Rs three lakh in cash and drove in a car to the rendezvous, where fair complexioned man in a crew cut, approached them and took the bag containing the cash.
He told them to arrange for the remaining money. He also took their car key and vanished in the same vehicle.
Higher ups alerted
S J Park police night beat constables who saw Kumuda standing stranded, made inquiries and Kumuda told them of what had transpired. They alerted the higher ups and a case was registered at the Cubbon Park police station next morning.
By late Wednesday evening, the car was traced near the Tamil Nadu border and police are convinced that some persons known to the family are involved in the episode.