‘Inspired’ by movies, youth kidnaps student for ransom

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: A 19-year-old youth was arrested for abducting a student for a ransom of Rs 5 lakh here. As per the police, the youth was inspired by movies and resorted to crime in order to make quick money.

The incident took place on August 4 and came to light after the completion of a preliminary probe by the city police. The arrested accused was identified as Arjun, a native of Tumakuru.

After completion of PUC, the youth had come to Bengaluru seeking a job, and ended up working in a garage. He was staying at a PG in HSR Layout, sources from the police said.

Fond of movies, the youth dreamt of earning quick money and devised a plan to abduct the son of an astrologer, who resided in the same area.

The 18-year-old son of the astrologer was seeking a medical seat and was on his way to a coaching centre on August 4 when Arjun allegedly blocked his car and requested for a lift.

However, as soon as he got into the vehicle, he pointed a dummy gun at the victim and directed him to drive to an isolated place.

The complainant stated that the accused had made a WhatsApp call to the victim's father using the victim's mobile phone and demanded Rs 5 lakh in order to release him.

Panic-stricken, the victim's mother went to arrange the ransom money while the astrologer approached the HSR Layout Police Station and filed a case. Tracing the location, the cops rescued the student and arrested the accused within a few hours.

The gun used by the accused was a fake one, which he had bought for Rs 38,000.

It was revealed that the accused had observed the activities of the astrologer's family carefully before putting his plan into action.