Ahmedabad land broker kidnapped, tortured for Rs 1-crore ransom

AHMEDABAD: A 26-year-old land broker from

Ghodasar

was allegedly kidnapped, beaten and tortured by 10 persons who allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore from him.

Complainant Karan Bhatt, on Wednesday, filed a complaint with the Detection of Crime Branch against Mahesh Rabari,

Phulo Rabari

, Nagji Rabari, Alpesh Hirwadi and Karan Marathi, all residents of Bhaipura, and five unidentified accomplices. He claimed that they had assaulted him on the night of February 17.

In his FIR, Bhatt stated that these men demanded Rs 1 crore from him and took his 36-tola gold chain worth Rs 14 lakh. He was only let go after he got a friend to stand as guarantor for the rest of the money that he promised to pay up in two instalments.

According to the complaint, Bhatt was riding his scooter home after meeting a friend at 9pm on February 17. He had neared Cadila Bridge in Jashodanagar when Mahesh, who was standing next to a blue Baleno car, gestured to him to stop. He stated that there was a maroon Brezza car parked near the Baleno.

"Mahesh forced me to get into the Baleno, where Nagji and a fat unknown man flanked me. Mahesh instructed the driver to go to 'their place' and both cars took off," Bhatt stated in the FIR.

"The Baleno then drove into the basement of Naiya Complex in

Vastral

, while the Brezza was parked on the road outside. There, Mahesh said to me 'you have made a lot of money, and will have to give us Rs 1-crore ransom or I will shoot you'. When I said I did not have that kind of money, they grew enraged. Mahesh and men from the other car began to beat me, demanding the money."

He alleged that Mahesh then told the others to get the other car, take Bhatt to Gatrad village and kill him. He stated that on the road to Gatrad, he told them that he had a gold chain worth Rs 14 lakh.

"They called my mother from my cellphone and had my brother Chintan leave the gold chain with a paan parlour owner. Mahesh called his friend Jayu Sindhi and had it collected,” Bhatt stated in his complaint.

"At Gatrad, they kept torturing me and demanding Rs 70 lakh. They took me to a place near a canal, lifted me up and began preparing to throw me in. To save myself, I told them I would give them the money in 2-3 days," he stated.

Mahesh and Phulo then took him to his friend Ravi Rami's house in

Odhav

. “They forced Rami to get in the car. Mahesh spoke to Rami who took responsibility for Rs 70 lakh on my behalf. They then agreed he would pay Rs 35 lakh in 3-4 days and another Rs 35 lakh by March 4. Finally, around midnight, they dropped me and Rami off on the road, and drove off,” the FIR states.

Bhatt added that both he and Rami later received several threatening calls from Mahesh and Phulo. He added that as these men are notorious, he was scared and hence did not go to file a police complaint earlier.


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