21-04-2025
Armyman, four aides held for ‘kidnapping' Jhansi trader for ‘Rs 1.5 crore ransom'
A 32-year-old Army jawan and four of his associates have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a Jhansi-based trader and demanding a ransom of Rs 1.5 crore for his release, police said.
The Army jawan, Ghanendra Pratap Singh, a resident of Jhansi, is posted at Panagarh in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district. The other arrested accused are Suraj Ahirwar (24), also a Jhansi resident, and Manendra Singh Parmar (35), Kamlesh Pal (20) and Shashikant Pal (25) of Madhya Pradesh.
The accused allegedly released Madhav Mohan Gupta, 34, who runs an electronics shop in the Raksa area of Jhansi two days after kidnapping him on April 14, fearing their capture after the police intensified the hunt for them, the police said.
'Ghanendra was the mastermind of the kidnapping, while the other four helped him in the crime. The accused were traced with the help of phone surveillance and call detail records,' said Superintendent of Police (City) Gyanendra Kumar Singh.
A pistol, four cartridges and two mobile phones were recovered from their possession, it is learnt.
The SP said the Gupta had recently purchased agricultural land from Suraj Ahirwar's family.
The police said it was found during the investigation that Ghanendra was under a debt of Rs 25 lakh which his family spent on his sister's wedding recently, SP Singh said.
He planned the kidnapping to repay the debt, he added.
According to the police, Madhav Mohan Gupta's father Mahesh Kumar Gupta filed a complaint stating his son was kidnapped on April 14 when he was returning home after closing his shop. The family later received a ransom call by the kidnappers from Madhav's mobile phone demanding Rs 1.5 crore for his release.
Five police teams were formed to trace the accused and ensure the safe return of the trader. The accused kept him in a tractor-trolley, frequently changing their location to avoid detection, the police said.
Ghanendra was on leave since April 8 and was supposed to rejoin service on Monday, it is learnt.
