Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Kidnapping: three moneylenders arrested

Thiruvananthapuram: In an undercover operation on Sunday, the city police secured the release of a 48-year-old gemstone dealer who had been kidnapped for ransom.

Law enforcers arrested three private moneylenders in connection with the crime. They are Sivakumar, 24, Vimal, 28, and Nazar 32, all from Pothencode.

B. Harikumar, Circle Inspector, Fort, said the suspects had entered into a Rs.1-lakh deal with gemstone dealer Venugopal for purchasing precious stones from New Delhi-based Anil Maheshwar. Koliyoor Anil, a lawyer accused in a land tax receipt forgery case, had introduced the suspects to Venugopal.

On May 2, the suspects handed over Rs.1 lakh to Anil Maheshwar in Kochi in the presence of Venugopal. Anil Maheshwar said he would return in an hour with precious stones.

The accused became suspicious of Venugopal when Anil fled with the money. (Anil and Venugopal had been business partners for years, the police said).

Mr. Harikumar said the suspects tortured Venugopal at a house at Kodungalloor in Thrissur district and later detained him at a lodge at Thampanoor in the city.

Using false names, they contacted Venugopal’s friend, Rajan Joseph, on his mobile phone and demanded Rs.1.25 lakh for Venugopal’s release.

Venugopal’s wife, Ambika Kumari, approached Mr. Harikumar on Sunday afternoon and said her husband had been kidnapped by a moneylender who was demanding Rs.1.25 lakh for his release.

She said the kidnappers were in touch with Rajan Joseph.

Mr. Harikumar contacted one of the kidnappers on his mobile phone and introduced himself as Mahesh, a relative of Venugopal’s wife. He bargained for Venugopal’s release for Rs.75,000, a blank cheque and a signed promissory note.

The kidnappers agreed to his demand and said the exchange could take place in front of a marriage hall at Kazhakuttam. They later shifted the meeting place to Thampanoor.

The police moved plainclothesmen into the area. Mr. Harikumar arrived in a private car wearing a shirt and dhoti. He was concealing a pistol. The police arrested the suspects when they brought Venugopal to the spot on a motorbike.

City Police Commissioner Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar directed the operation. Suresh, Sub-Inspector, Fort, headed the plainclothes team.

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