After failed kidnap bid, duo demands Rs 5 lakh not to abduct boy in future; held

Team Udayavani, Jul 3, 2022, 11:45 AM IST

A duo, who panicked and backed out of their plan to kidnap a school-going boy, later tried to extort Rs 5 lakh from his parents to drop future kidnap plans. Their plans however went awry and they landed behind police bars in Bengaluru.

The arrested are identified as Shakthivelu, 20, an auto driver from Kempanna Layout near KR Puram, and Suneetha, 30, an apparel store salesgirl from Maragondanahalli.

The boy Sai Akshit’s father Manoj Kumar, a resident of Kithaganur had approached the Avalahalli police to report the call his wife received from a person saying that they tried to kidnap their son and would do so again. He however said that if they pay Rs 5 lakh he would not abduct their son in the future. The caller even posed death threats.

Earlier that day, when Akshit was returning home from school in a van, Shakthivelu and Suneetha intercepted the van at Happy Garden in Kithaganur and then generally enquired with the driver if he could also pick up and drop their daughter who studies at the same school.

The driver said that he would come to check the location after dropping off Akshit. At this time, Suneetha tried to kidnap Akshit while Shakthivelu blocked the driver. They however panicked and fled the spot when both the driver and Akshit began shouting for help. The driver narrated the entire incident to Akshit’s mother while dropping him.

The boy’s father later as advised by the police asked the abductors to come near Katamnallur Gate at 4 am on Friday to take the money. Unaware of the trap laid for them, the suspects arrived at the spot and were held by the police.

Police said that Shakthivelu had started operating auto after his employment with the Kumars. He however fell into bad company and his income was low to support his lifestyle. He thus teamed up with Suneetha to carry out the abduction.

With DHNS inputs