Ten suspects of their custody, hours of footage from 100 CCTV cameras scanned and a viral audio clip including to a twist. The police of Meerut and Bijnor districts are on the lookout for a breakthrough of their probe into the kidnapping of two Mumbai-based celebrities — comic Sunil Pal and actor Mushtaq Mohammed Khan.
The 2 abductions held in fast succession – November 20 of Khan, adopted by December 2 of Pal – have related modus operandi, with each being held captive on the similar guesthouse in Bijnor. Additionally, what has transpired from the complaints is that each have been invited to participate in an occasion and have been paid some cash prematurely. Whereas Khan was paid an advance of Rs 25,000 and flight tickets, in accordance with a criticism filed by his occasion supervisor in Bijnor; it’s not but clear how a lot Pal was paid.
“Each the kidnappings have been carried out in an identical method. Each of them have been stored blindfolded throughout their interval of captivity in the identical guesthouse in Bijnor. Mushtaq Khan was invited for a senior residents’ present in Meerut on November 20 and was kidnapped from Modinagar after being picked up from Delhi airport… Sunil Pal additionally has advised Mumbai Police that he was kidnapped from a dhaba on the Meerut-Haridwar freeway on December 2 after he was lured to enter a fan’s automotive,” stated Superintendent of Police (Bijnor) Abhishek Jha.
However the similarities finish there.
As per the FIR registered in Bijnor, Shivam Yadav, the actor was crushed and tortured by his abductors. He was compelled to switch Rs 2.25 lakh from his cellular. On the morning of November 22 round 4 am, Khan managed to flee from the guesthouse and took shelter at a close-by mosque, from the place he made calls to his family and friends and managed to return to Mumbai. Sunil Pal, however, advised the Mumbai Police — the place his spouse had filed a lacking particular person’s criticism on December 2 after she was unable to contact him on his telephone — that the abductors didn’t beat him up and he was launched in Meerut on the night of December 3 after he transferred Rs 8 lakh to 2 financial institution accounts. Pal additionally advised police that he was paid Rs 20,000 by the abductors in order that he may return to Mumbai.
Mumbai Police, probing Pal’s kidnapping, additionally traced the transferred cash to the financial institution accounts of two jewellers within the metropolis from whom the alleged kidnappers purchased gold. The accounts of the 2 jewellers have been later frozen.
However an audio clip, reportedly launched by Pal’s kidnappers, has put the Meerut and Bijnor police in a repair. “We’re in possession of an audio tape, which was launched by the abductors after Sunil Pal was launched. The content material within the audio clip factors out that Pal knew his kidnappers very nicely and guaranteed them repeatedly within the tape to maintain quiet for a while,” stated Senior Superintendent of Police (Meerut) Vipin Tada.
To get readability, Meerut police, which is now probing the kidnapping case after the Mumbai Police transferred the case to it on Tuesday, summoned Pal.
Nevertheless, Sunil Pal’s spouse, Sarita, on Wednesday reached Meerut to fulfill the investigators.
“The audio tape was leaked selectively and solely these parts of the dialog have been launched to convey a message that my husband Sunil Pal and the abductors have been hand-in-glove. My husband is sick and is taking relaxation in Mumbai. So, I got here to Meerut with three legal professionals to cooperate with the Meerut police,” Sarita advised mediapersons after assembly the investigators. “Sunil was threatened earlier than the audio was recorded… Initially, ` 20 lakh was demanded, however we gave them Rs 8 lakh. As soon as the accused are arrested, the scenario will turn out to be clear,” she added. When requested if her husband’s kidnapping was linked to actor Mushtaq Khan’s abduction, Sarita she had no data of it.
“We’re checking the audio tape to seek out whether or not it’s edited. These in custody are being interrogated and 4 groups have been fashioned to trace down the primary accused — Lavi Pal, and Arjun Karnwal — who’re absconding. The true image will emerge after our ongoing investigation is full,” the Meerut SSP stated.
“We’re conducting raids at potential hideouts of the suspects and the primary accused. We’re hopeful of getting a breakthrough quickly,” stated Bijnor SP Jha.
