Imposter NCB sleuths held, one ‘victim’ among culprits

An official told DT Next that one of the victims, Akbar, who was behind the abduction drama has been arrested along with R Saravanan (46), S Arunkumar (28), S Nirmal Josh (29), A Mohanraj (38) and H Shiek Mohammed (25), J Prince Prasannaraj (35). An SUV, Indian and foreign currencies worth Rs 3,36,430, two hand-cuffs, two walki-talkies and two fake pistols were seized from them. 

Akbar informed his friend in Triplicane that Indian and foreign currencies were being smuggled to Sri Lanka, and the latter got in touch with Nirmal Josh in Tiruchy. They then hatched the abduction plan keeping Akbar in the loop. 

Investigating the case, St Thomas Mount police had formed seven special teams. They first questioned the victims, and following suspicion, Akbar was interrogated separately. After persistent grilling, Akbar finally spilled the beans about the plan, police sources said. Based on the information he gave, police arrested six persons from Tiruchy. 

On March 3 night, when the five men were proceeding to the airport from a lodge in Triplicane, they were intercepted by another car on GST Road near Kathipara junction. A group of men posing as personnel from Narcotics Control Bureau took them in their car blindfolded. Later, they threatened them at knife point and robbed money and their mobile phones before letting them off one after another at different spots on NH 45.