Mumbai: A 20-year-old Badlapur resident allegedly tried to kidnap the six-year-old son of his father’s employer by knocking him out cold with chloroform, as he wanted money to buy a new bike. The accused, Sunish Pawar, decided to kidnap the child, Aarush, who stays in his building, as his father had reduced his pocket money, the police said.

The police said that Pawar, who does not have a criminal record, drew inspiration from a television crime show. Aarush’s face developed black patches because of its exposure to chloroform. The police is looking for three friends of Pawar, one of whom allegedly supplied him the chloroform. The police is looking into how the chemical was purchased, as its sale is restricted.

According to a police officer, the incident happened on Sunday at the boy’s residence, Gopal Heights building. Pawar took Aarush, was playing at his building premises, to the rear of the building where an auto-rickshaw was parked. The youth then removed his gloves and sprinkled the chemical on it and tried to choke Aarush for almost seven to eight minutes.

A police officer said, Aarush’s sister, who trying to locate him, she saw his football lying near the rear of the building. When she went farther, they saw Aarush’s legs dangling outside the rickshaw and immediately rescued him from Pawar.

Initially, Aarush and his sister were unaware of Pawar’s intentions. The officer added that after the boy returned home he told his mother that he would never play with the youth again, as he “is bad”. Later, when the child’s face started blackening, his parents went through Pawar’s clothes and they found a bottle of chloroform in his pants. The police arrested Pawar on Monday.

The Badlapur police station senior police inspector S. Rajbhog said, “He had done this for money. The Pawar’s family is very close to victim and they knew Aarush’s schedule.”