4 arrested for attempting to kidnap businessman

The police has arrested four accused — Manoj Singh, Mangesh Mane, Rupesh Lad and Rahul Ojha — in connection with a kidnapping incident in Charkop area on March 17. Significantly, Mr Singh is a relative of the businessman who escaped the kidnapping attempt.

According to DCP – Zone 11, Vikram Deshmane, sharebroker Sanjay Shah on March 17 was on his way to repair his spectacles when three people, one of them dressed in police uniform, stopped him on the road and said that they were from the crime branch and needed to arrest him. The three were in a car and took Mr Shah to Vasai, stopping at a petrol pump on the way. They kept him there, blindfolded. On March 18, they called Mr Shah’s brother, Rajesh, and demanded a ransom of '2 crore but Rajesh informed the police. Singh came to know about the police involvement and soon, Mr Shah was left on the road after being robbed of Rs 50,000.

Mr Shah returned home on March 19 after which police started searching for the accused. They checked CCTV footage of the hotel and petrol pump and chanced upon the kidnappers’ car. Upon investigation, they found that the car’s number plate was bogus and nabbed the person on whose name it was registered. This person recognised the car and directed officials to Mane, a tourist car driver. Mane led the officials to the other accused. Apparently, Singh had asked Mr Shah for money several times but without success, so, he decided to teach the latter a lesson.