Bizman, kin abducted, let off after paying 33 lakh ransom

Last month, a person who introduced himself as Saravanakumar, a bank loan agent, approached S Mohan of West Mambalam who runs Vinayaga Enterprises a financing firm in Vadapalani. He claimed a medical equipment firm on Old Mahabalipuram Road was in need of finance of Rs 20 lakh and invited him to meet the stakeholders.

Mohan and his brother-in-law Manikkam decided to visit the firm to discuss the deal, and on Wednesday afternoon, when they were about to board their car at Vadapalani, Saravanakumar insisted that they travel together on his vehicle. When the car proceeded towards Tambaram instead of taking the Guindy route, Mohan asked Saravanakumar about the change of route, but was told that it was only to avoid traffic.

When they reached Mappedu near Selaiyur, three more men got into the vehicle. After travelling for about 30 more minutes, they stopped at an isolated place. There, the gang threatened Mohan and Manikkam at knifepoint demanding Rs 1 crore. When Mohan expressed his inability to pay such a huge amount, the kidnappers reduced it by half. Mohan said he only had Rs 33 lakh kept at home, to which they agreed.

Mohan instructed his brother Ganesan to hand over Rs 33 lakh to the person sent by the kidnappers on Wednesday night. After confirming that the sum was received, the victims were taken in the car and dropped at Mappedu. From there, the duo headed home.

Mohan reportedly visited City Police Commissionerate on Thursday, and as per the directions by officers, he lodged a formal complaint at Vadapalani police station.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the registration number of the car used in the kidnap was fake. Two special teams have been formed to nab the kidnappers, police said.