Within 24 hours and after an extended chase on foot, the city police rescued a businessman who had been abducted on Saturday morning, and also arrested the perpetrator, a notorious history-sheeter, in Puzhal on Sunday.
According to police, the victim, Annamalai, runs a log shop on Erukanchery High Road in Vyasarpadi. A few days ago, a history-sheeter in the area, Babloo alias Prabhu (29) threatened Annamalai with a knife and demanded Rs. 10 lakh. When Annamalai said he didn’t have that much money, Babloo asked him to come up with Rs. 60,000.
On Saturday, Annamalai went to Babloo with the money, but Babloo took him hostage and insisted he come up with the rest of the money. He took Annamalai to a house near Puzhal and then called Annamala’s brother, Shankar and asked him to bring the money.
Shankar lodged a complaint with the police. A team then accompanied Shankar, who was directed by Babloo to come to Puzhal Bypass Road with the ransom.
There, Babloo and Annamalai were sitting inside a car along with a few others.
When Babloo and the others saw the police, they abandoned their car and ran. “We started chasing them and finally nabbed Babloo and two of his aides, Vinod (24) and Anbu (39). We are still searching for a couple of others who managed to escape,” said a senior police officer. Police said Babloo was a resident of Sathyamoorthy Nagar in Vyasarpadi.
Two years ago, he was booked under the Goondas Act in connection with a few murder cases. He was released on August 10 this year and had immediately begun an extortion racket, targeting businessmen.
