The Hebbal police have arrested four men for allegedly kidnapping a Bengaluru-based software engineer with the intention of extorting ₹17.5 lakh from him. The prime accused, Waseem, a realtor, was a friend of the victim, Jita Mitra, 36. A fifth accused is on the run.
According to the police, Jita had business dealings with Waseem and had also taken his help to invest in the real estate sector. “The accused was aware of Mitra's financial status. He decided to kidnap him and extort money from him,” said a police officer.
He roped in the other accused — Salman, Pradeep Sagar, Sunil Yuvaraj and Syed — who followed Jita and mapped his routine.
On May 7, while Jita was heading home, they intercepted his car on Hebbal Link Road.
“The four men, who Jita had never met before, accused him of colliding with their car. They forced him out of his car, bundled him into their vehicle and drove to an isolated location where they tortured him and demanded ₹17.5 lakh in exchange for his release,” said the police.
They asked Jita to give them a list of friends who could give them the money immediately. Waseem’s name was on the list.
After a few hours, they released Jita saying that Waseem had transferred the ransom in two instalments. “In reality, however, Waseem had not give them any money,” a police officer said.
After being released, Jita contacted the police who summoned Waseem. “We wanted to get details of the abductors from Waseem,” the officer said. However, Waseem did not report to the station, which made the police suspicious.
When they traced him and questioned him, he confessed to the crime. The police are on the lookout for Syed who is on the run.