The city police are investigating a complaint from a businessman, who said he was kidnapped by a gang on Wednesday demanding a ransom of ₹1 crore and was released after paying ₹33 lakh.
According to the police, the complainant, Mohan, a resident of Vivekanandapuram, West Mambalam, was running a financial services firm in Vadapalani. On Wednesday afternoon, a person had come to his office, introducing himself as an agent, and sought a loan of ₹20 lakh on behalf of a doctor for procuring medical equipment.
He invited Mr. Mohan to visit the hospital on OMR. Mr. Mohan, along with his son-in-law Manickam, went to visit the hospital. When the car was nearing Tambaram, Mr. Mohan and Mr. Manickam asked the agent why he was taking this route. He replied that he came this side to avoid traffic snarls.
After crossing Mappedu, the car stopped. Three persons, who were waiting there, got into the car.
Even as the car was moving, they blindfolded Mr. Mohan and his son-in-law.
The suspects stopped the car at an undisclosed spot and demanded ₹1 crore ransom at knife-point.
Later, they agreed to release them on payment of ₹33 lakh and demanded that the amount be handed over to their accomplice waiting near the Vadapalani Junction. The victims spoke to another relative and arranged for the money.
Dropped in secluded place
Meanwhile, the kidnappers were moving around with them in the car till Wednesday night. After they received the ransom, the kidnappers snatched their mobile phones and jewellery and abandoned them in a secluded place in the southern suburbs.
The kidnappers gave them ₹600 cash so that they could go home in a call taxi.
They threatened to kill them if they went to the police.
Mr. Mohan and his relative lodged a complaint with the Commissioner of Police and later the case was forwarded to the Arumbakkam police for further investigation.
