Bengaluru Man Fakes Kidnapping to Seek Rs 90 Lakh From Father, Two Friends Held

A 40-year-old man allegedly staged his own kidnapping with the help of two friends and demanded Rs 90 lakh ransom from his father to repay a debt, police said on Friday.

The man, identified as Manish, was traced to a house near Belur in Hassan district through technical surveillance and was found there in the early hours of October 1, police said. Two of his friends, who allegedly assisted him in the conspiracy, have also been arrested.

According to police, Manish left his home in Bengaluru on the night of September 29, telling his parents that he was travelling to Gadag in connection with some financial transactions. He reportedly told them that he would board an 11.40 pm train and contact them the following morning.

However, when the family did not hear from him, they received a WhatsApp call from his phone at around 8.30 am on September 30. The caller allegedly claimed that Manish had been kidnapped and threatened the family, demanding Rs 90 lakh for his release, a senior police officer said.

Following a complaint from his father, a case was registered at Rajarajeshwari Nagar Police Station.

During the investigation, police traced Manish's mobile phone and subsequently tracked another number allegedly being used by the kidnappers. Technical surveillance led the police to a village near Belur, where they located the house in which Manish was staying.

Interrogation allegedly revealed that the purported kidnapping was part of a conspiracy involving Manish and his two friends. Police said Manish had lost money in a business transaction and was facing difficulty repaying the debt.

He allegedly devised the plan with his friends to deceive his father and obtain money by making him believe that his son had been kidnapped.

The two friends have been arrested in connection with the case, while further investigation is underway, police said.