A shocking incident came into light in Kothrud, Pune where a 30-year-old man was allegedly kidnapped and physically abused by three men, among whom one of them was his employer. The incident took place over a heated argument on financial issues. It concerned the company’s money being spent during the COVID-19 lockdown, after the victim's stay in Delhi was extended unexpectedly, the police informed on Sunday.

The incident took place at the company’s office on June 13 and 14, but the FIR was launched on July 2 with the Paud police station, a police official confirmed.

The victim worked as a manager for the company which is responsible for organising exhibitions to showcase paintings of artists and painters, he said.

For official work purpose, he travelled to Delhi in March but was unable to return because of the unprecedented COVID-19 enforced lockdown, he added.

The man was provided with some cash from the firm which he spent during his stay at a lodge in Delhi, the official added.

The official read out the FIR, which said, “After returning to Pune on May 7, the complainant’s employer asked him to get quarantined in a hotel for 17 days. Since he did not have money, he mortgaged his phone and debit card before check out.”

On June 13, the employer of the company along with his assistant demanded all the money spent by the victim. They immediately tied him up and threw him into the car, the official stated

Following this, the man was abducted in the company’s office where the firm’s owner and his assistants continued to torture him, and they even sprayed sanitiser on his genitals.

“They took him to the firm’s office where he was confined. The owner and two others thrashed him and sprayed sanitiser on his private part,” the official further said.

“They released him later,” he added. The victim filed an FIR against the culprits on Thursday and got himself admitted in a private hospital. However, the police haven't arrested anyone so far and are currently investigating the case.