Kidnapping is a heinous offence: HC

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Terming kidnapping as a heinous offence, the High Court of Karnataka has denied bail to a person involved in kidnapping a minor boy and demanding ransom from his parents. The case of the Hagaribommanahalli police who are investigating the case is that one Krishnamurthy, 71, filed the complaint.

The said senior citizen was residing with his son Raghavendra and two granddaughters and the victim boy Aadvik aged five years. On July 3, at around 3 pm his son and daughter-in-law informed him that their son Aadvik had gone out to play and not returned. At 4.50 pm, Krishnamurthy’s son received a call on his phone on which the caller informed him that Aadvik had been kidnapped and would be released without harm if a ransom of Rs 15 lakh was paid.

A complaint was thus filed before the police. The police found that the SIM was bought in the name of one Kumarappa. They found that Kumarappa had bought a new SIM card a few days earlier and submitted his Aadhaar card copy for it. The police rescued the kidnapped boy and arrested Chanabasava. He sought bail from the trial court which rejected it. He then approached the HC.

Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar however said he had committed a heinous offence and could not be released. “Offence alleged against his petition under Section 364A of IPC is a heinous offence punishable with imprisonment for a period of ten years. This petitioner has criminal antecedents, and he is involved in crime and registered for offences punishable under the NDPS Act.

If the petitioner is granted bail, there is a threat to the complainant and other prosecution witnesses, and there are chances of him repeating the same offences and other offences.” Dismissing the petition, the HC said, “Charge sheet material shows prima facie case against the petitioner for the offences alleged against him.