Navi Mumbai Police rescue 15-year-old kidnapped boy, arrest four demanding Rs 20 lakh ransom

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The Navi Mumbai Police in Maharashtra rescued a 15-year-old boy within 24 hours of his abduction and arrested four men for allegedly demanding Rs 20 lakh as ransom, officials said on Monday.

According to the police, the operation was carried out by the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch Unit-1 that successfully solved the kidnapping case.

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Kidnappers contacted family through WhatsApp message

An FIR was lodged on December 28 by a 55-year-old resident of Diva village after his nephew was abducted. The kidnappers contacted the family through a WhatsApp voice message demanding Rs 20 lakh for the boy's release, an official said.

Cops swung into action

Senior police officers, including Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe and Joint Commissioner Sanjay Yenpure, immediately ordered search and rescue operations. Teams analysed CCTV footage and identified the vehicle used in the abduction, a white Maruti Suzuki WagonR (T Permit).

Investigation revealed that the vehicle had been booked online from Garam Masala Hotel, Airoli, to Nandivli village in Kalyan using the boy's mobile phone. CCTV footage showed four men escorting the child into Sai Aradhana Apartment near Sadashiv Patil Parking Compound in Rajaram Nagar, Kalyan East, said an official.

Accused nabbed

Crime Branch teams raided the apartment and arrested the four men: Pravin Kumar Jaiswal (24), the main accused, Vishal Pasi (19), Chandan Morya (19), and Sagar Satyam Yadav (19). The boy was rescued unharmed, the official said.

The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Ajaykumar Landge. Investigations into the case are ongoing, he said.

Under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Navi Mumbai, Sachin Gunjal, and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ajaykumar Landge, the operation was carried out by the Crime Branch.

The team included Senior Police Inspector Tanaji Bhagat, Police Sub-Inspector Nilesh Bankar, Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Abhay Kakad, Police Naik Azhar Mirza, Police Constable Vishal Sawarkar, Bharat Sanap, and Driver Police Havaldar Vishwas Bhoir, who actively participated in the operation.