Now we all know about the Rs 2 crore kidnapping

Police confirms ransom was paid; act swiftly, culprits behind the bars now

The cat is out of the bag, finally.

After keeping mum over the kidnapping and release of the sun of a rich Delhi businessman for a fortnight, the Delhi police have finally revealed the details of the case.

MiD DAY reported on Monday about the incident and how both the police and family of the victim were tightlipped about the whole development.
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Nikunj Mittal, 25, son of a rich copper merchant in Chandni Chowk, Rajiv Mittal, was abducted from near Old Lajpat Rai market on July 27 and was released after his father paid the ransom money of Rs 2 crore. Though he informed the police initially but did not pursue his complaint for the fear of his son being harmed.

Rajiv Mittal paid the ransom amount on the Meerut-Ghaziabad road July 29. The victim, who was kept in a flat in Bakkarwala area, was released a day later near the Taj Hotel.

However, the operation cell of the north district police got specific inputs in the case and they arrested the two accused Gaurav Chouhan alias Sachin, 27 and Lambu alias Sahi Ram, 24. Apart from a pistol, the police also recovered Rs 1.23 crore from their possession.

"The victim's father kept us in the dark. He did not tell us that he was going to pay the ransom amount. But our men knew about it and followed him from a distance. Our first priority was the safe release of the businessman's son," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) Karnal Singh.

The police said that Chouhan used to supply copper wire to the victim's father. Initially, Chouhan denied his involvement in the case but when confronted with the material collected, he confessed his involvement in the crime and was arrested.

During the interrogation, Chouhan said that he knew Rajiv Mittal had sold a piece of land in Gurgaon, Haryana and got a large amount of cash. Therefore, he hatched a plan to kidnap his son for ransom with his associate Sahi Ram. The two had also conducted a reccee for 15 days on their victim's activity.

"They found that their victim used to take his car from the Gandhi Maidan Parking in Chandni Chowk at about 7.30 pm and then wait opposite Old Lajpat Rai Market to pick up his father. The accused followed Nikunj on July 27 after he left his shop in Chandni Chowk up to the parking. They overpowered Nikunj as soon as he got into the car and took him to the GPO, Kashmere Gate where the victim was blindfolded. Chouhan drove the car to his factory in Matiala area of west Delhi and made a call to victim's father demanding ransom," Singh said.

Chouhan, is a Delhi University graduate, who runs a copper factory in Matiala area of Uttam Nagar.