A 40-year-old man in Karnataka allegedly faked his own kidnapping in order to demand Rs 90 lakh from his father, only to be traced by police to a room in Hassan district, where the cops found him sleeping alongside two of his aides. The accused, identified as Manish, allegedly devised the plan after losing money in a business transaction and acted under pressure to repay loans. Owing to this, he made his father, Manohar Patel, the target of the extortion bid.

Son told father he is travelling for work

Police said Manish told his father that he was travelling to Gadag by train for work-related purposes. He also assured him that he would call him up the next morning.

However, Manohar received a call on WhatsApp from his son’s number the next morning. Two of Manish’s accomplices told him that they had kidnapped Manish, and demanded Rs 90 lakh to set him free.

Alarmed by the incident, Manohar approached the cops, who immediately began tracking Manish’s cell phone. Initially, the device was switched off, impeding the police probe. However, Manohar later received a call from another number, and the caller allegedly asked him whether the ransom amount had been arranged.

Cops trace location to Hassan

The investigating police team tracked the second number to the Hassan region and eventually narrowed down its location to a room. To the police’s surprise, when they reached the premises, they found Manish sleeping comfortably with his accomplices.

During interrogation, the cops allegedly unearthed the entire plan concocted by the trio. They learnt that the plan was hatched by Manush and his aides to extract money from his father.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division) told the media, “This was not an actual kidnapping for ransom, but a plan hatched by the person who claimed to have been kidnapped because he was in need of some money.”

He added that Manish had lost money in another business transaction and wanted to repay his outstanding loans. Thus, he staged his own abduction to demand money from his father.

All 3 arrested

Police have registered a case in connection with the incident and said they have arrested all three accused. The accused trio has been remanded to judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison as the probe into the case remains in progress.