Kidnapper dies as car rams tree

The deceased has been identified as Vaseer Khan (30), while Prakash, a gang member who sustained injuries in the accident, was arrested along with the main accused, Amudha (38) of Perambur. Khan’s brother, however, escaped from the hospital, said the police.

Abdul Kareem, who is into buying and selling used cars, had borrowed Rs 10 lakh from Amudha. After delayed in returning the money, Amudha allegedly decided to kidnap him to demand ransom.

Around 7 am on Sunday, when Abdul Kareem went to the mosque near his house, Amudha and three others – Vaseer Khan, his brother Rasool Khan and Prakash – kidnapped and took him to Puducherry on Rasool’s car. Abdul’s wife Aisha who came to know about this, immediately lodged a complaint at Kodungaiyur police station. When police tried to contact Amudha, the calls went unanswered. Later, Vaseer Khan himself called the police and allegedly abused them.

However, the gang grew wary of police action and decided to return to the city. “They all got drunk and were returning to Chennai when Vaseer Khan who was driving the car lost control while trying to overtake another vehicle. The car rammed a tree at Saram near Tindivanam,” said police. All five persons in the car sustained injuries and passers-by rushed them to a nearby hospital, where Vaseer Khan was declared brought dead.

Investigation revealed that Amudha runs an eatery and had given the amount to Abdul Kareem, after getting the money from another person. After he failed to return it, she sought Vaseer Khan’s help to get it back.

While Rasool Khan managed to escape from the hospital, Kodungaiyur police arrested Amudha and Prakash and remanded them in judicial custody on Monday. Investigation officer Devendran said that Rasool Khan would be nabbed soon.