Released after Rs. 70,000 deposited to bank account

Mysore/Mysuru: Miscreants, who had allegedly kidnapped a maize trader and his driver who had come to city, have released them two days later after Rs. 70,000 was deposited to their bank account.

The kidnapped and released victims are Periyaswamy and Balaji of Jageri village of Kollegal taluk in Chamarajanagar district, who reached Bengaluru yesterday morning. Vijayanagar Police, who have registered a case, following a complaint from one P. Madeshan, son of Perumal of Jageri village on Dec. 7 at about 8 pm, have launched a hunt to nab the alleged kidnappers identified as Ashok, Raju, Poojari and others, who are absconding.

In his complaint, Madeshan has stated that his elder brother Periyaswamy on Dec. 6 at about 11 am had come to Mysuru on work in his Toyota Innova vehicle along with driver Balaji, and his relative’s children Veeramani and Manikanta.

But on the same day at 3 pm, only Veeramani and Manikanta returned to the village and on enquiring them about Periyaswamy and Balaji, the children are said to have told him (Madeshan) that Priyaswamy told them that his friends have come near Vijayanagar Ring Road and he was going there to collect money from them and left in an autorickshaw along with Balaji from near Mysuru Zoo.

Madeshan has further stated in the complaint that Veeramani and Manikanta called Periyaswamy over the phone but received a message that the phone was switched off and hence they came back to the village. Madeshan has further stated that at about 9 pm he got a call on his mobile phone from Periyaswamy, who told that they (Periyaswamy and Balaji) were with Ashok, and Raju in Bengaluru and would come back the next day. But the next day (Dec. 7) at about 7 am, he received a WhatsApp call from Periyaswamy’s mobile phone, where the caller told Madeshan that they have kidnapped Piriyaswamy and Balaji besides asking Madeshan to deposit Rs. 15 lakh to the account at City Union Bank, which Periyaswamy had to give Ashok besides threatening of killing Periyaswamy and Balaji if they failed to deposit the amount, Madeshan stated in the complaint and added that he deposited Rs. 70,000 to the account as told by the caller out of fear.

DCP (Law and order) Dr. A.N. Prakash said that based on the complaint, Vijayanagar Police had registered a case under IPC Section 364 (A) read with 34 and had begun their investigation, but yesterday morning, the Police received information that Periyaswamy and Balaji were released by the kidnappers. The Police have continued their operation to nab the kidnappers, he added.