M. Shankar (30), a fuel station owner who was reportedly kidnapped by a gang on Sunday morning, returned home during the wee hours of Monday.
He is the son of the Edapadi Panchayat Union Chairman A. Madesh, a senior All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam functionary and district president of the Jayalalithaa Peravai.
According to the complaint lodged by Madesh with the Poolampatti Police, Shankar, on Sunday, had informed his father that he was on his way to Jalakandapuram to collect a courier. Madesh received a call on his mobile phone at 1.30 p.m. and the caller claimed that Shankar was with him. The caller demanded a ransom of Rs. 2 crore to let Shankar free.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Section 364 (A) (kidnapping for ransom) of the Indian Penal Code and eight special teams were formed to rescue Shankar, the Superintendent of Police, S.R. Senthil Kumar (in-charge), said. Meanwhile, the police received information from the victim’s house that he had returned home at 4.20 a.m. on Monday.
According to Shankar, a gang of four, who came in a four-wheeler, kidnapped him. The gang told him that his father (Madesh) owed them Rs. 25 lakh. They kept him locked in a room. Later, they let him free at Attayampatti, without harming him.
An inquiry is under way to find out the authenticity of Shankar’s version, the police sources said.
