Gang kidnaps 23-year-old, demands Rs 15 lakh ransom

The youth M Rajesh, a resident of Kattiyam Pandhal village near Uthiramerur, is working in a private firm in Maraimalai Nagar. Before leaving home on Monday morning, Rajesh had informed his father Muniyapan that he would be returning late, as he had to attend a friend’s marriage reception. 

When he did not return till 11 pm, Muniyapan tried to call him but his phone was switched off. Around 5.30 am on Tuesday, Muniyapan got a call from his son’s phone number. When he attended the call, Rajesh told him between sobs that he was kidnapped and had been taken in a car by a group of six men, who demanded ransom to release him. 

Muniyapan received another call from Rajesh’s number around 6.30 am, when the caller demanded Rs 15 lakh. He was also told that the time and the place where the money should be brought would be informed later. Following this, Muniyapan filed a complaint at the Uthiramerur police station. Police traced the mobile phone tower signals to a location near Bengaluru.

Police said Rajesh could have been kidnapped by the family of a friend whom he had helped in connection with the latter’s love affair. However, police have not ruled out the suspicion that Rajesh himself could have staged the kidnap drama to extort money from his father.