Batchmate to be questioned for IRS officer’s kidnap plan

THANE: The city police may question a high-ranking retired official of the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) allegedly for financial fraud and his role in attempting to kidnap retired IRS officer Ashok Kacker, who happens to be his batchmate.
The crime branch sleuths stumbled upon the development after arresting four hardened criminals from Bhiwandi on April 11, who revealed that they were given a contract to kidnap Kacker.
A probe has reportedly revealed that the kidnapping contract was given by Kacker’s batchmate and retired IRS official Kamlesh Argal, who is now believed to be settled in Jabalpur. The cop involved in the investigation said that a team of Thane police has been sent to Jabalpur to nab Agral and question him for the alleged motive behind the contract. “Prima facie it seems that money is the bone of contention between the two retired IRS officers. We have recorded Kacker’s statement. Only after questioning Argal there will be more clarity in the case,” said the official.
He added that the entire kidnapping drama was planned to allegedly recover cash running into several crores of rupees. “The goons whom we arrested from Bhiwandi claimed that Kacker and Agral had a fallout over a financial transaction and failed investment,’’ he said, adding that the police would take help of the Income Tax department to help in the case and trace the source of money.