Abducted businessman rescued, police trace kidnappers in Bihar

 Three persons have been arrested at Samastipur in Bihar for kidnapping a west Delhi-based cable operator and his employee for a Rs 25 lakh ransom, police said on Monday.

Pramod Kumar Ray, 36, Rajesh Kumar Mehto, 25, and Suresh Kumar Sharma, 40, were held after Tilak Nagar resident Monika Mehra approached police, saying her husband Ajay Kumar had gone missing. Ajay runs Mayur Cable at Tilak Nagar.

“Ajay had gone to Patna with his employee Dharamveer on February 19. He did not return home till February 21 and his mobile was also found switched off,” said V Renganathan, additional commissioner of police (west).

Ajay, however, made a call to his mother at 4.30 pm on February 21. Monika, who works with New Era School in Mayapuri, immediately spoke to Ajay, who asked her to let him speak to another of his employees, Rahul.

“Ajay told Rahul that he and Dharamveer had been kidnapped by some persons, and they were demanding Rs 25 lakh,” Renganathan added.

Deposit money in account

Ajay called Monika again at 8 pm on February 21, and told her to deposit Rs 15,000 in his mother’s bank account. 

“Ajay said a man by the name of Shailender would come to collect Rs 10 lakh on February 23,” Renganathan said.

During investigation, a man by the name of Surender was apprehended when he come to collect the ransom amount from Ajay’s house. 

He told police that he came to collect the money as directed by Pramod.

Surender works as a ‘transporter’ of money, and gets commission for taking money from Delhi to his native place in Bihar. At his instance, Pramod and Rajesh were held from Bihar’s Samastipur district.

“Ajay and Dharamveer were rescued from Pramod’s house at Samastipur. Suresh was keeping watch on the victims, and was also apprehended,” Renganathan added.A case of kidnapping for ransom and criminal conspiracy has been lodged against with Tilak Nagar police station.