CHENNAI: The police on Tuesday rescued a rice godown owner who was kidnapped for a Rs 2 lakh ransom by his former employee and his associates near Royapuram and arrested all three.

The victim, S Anandkumar (38), a resident of Thanikachalam Street in Old Washermanpet, runs a rice godown in Royapuram. On Monday night, when Anandkumar was riding his two-wheeler home after work, he was intercepted by an autorickshaw in the Stanley Hospital subway.

The occupants in the auto assaulted him and bundled him into the auto and fled the scene. Meanwhile, Anandkumar's wife tried reaching his phone. As it was switched off, she reached out to his friends.

The kidnappers called one of Anandkumar's friends and demanded a Rs 2 lakh ransom to release him. The friend informed Anandkumar's wife, who approached the police.

On instructions from the police, the family agreed to give the ransom, and eventually, after ascertaining the location of the kidnappers, the police rounded them up and rescued Anandkumar.

R Dhanasekar (31) of Korukkupet, S Raja (26) of Ennore and V Yesudas (32) of Royapuram were arrested, and one of their associates managed to flee.

Dhanasekar, police said, is a history sheeter and was the mastermind of the kidnapping. He was a former employee at Anandkumar's godown and got dismissed after he got caught pilfering rice sacks.

Based on Anandkumar's complaint, Dhanasekar was arrested and spent a few days in jail in the case. The arrested persons were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.