On Tuesday, Preetesh Patel, a reputed builder from Kalyan area, got a call from a person going by the name of Saleem Bhai. The caller claimed he and his aides had abducted Preetesh’s brother Piyush, who owns a gas agency in Dombivali. “The man said that the actual plan was to kidnap Preetesh, but they inadvertently picked up Piyush. He then asked Preetesh to bring Rs 1 crore to Durgadi Fort at Kalyan West,” said Milind Bharambe, additional commissioner of police, Thane crime branch.

Game up: Piyush Patel (second from right) and Vijay Patel in police custody. Pic/Navneet Barhate