Latest news with #Melwin
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Dubai-based manager abducted in Bengaluru, Kidnappers demanded ₹2.5 crore: Report
Bengaluru's Ashoknagar police have rescued a 37-year-old manager of a Dubai-based travel firm who was allegedly kidnapped by his female friend and her associates, who demanded ₹2.5 crore in ransom, reported The Hindu. The police arrested four of the accused while the prime conspirator, Mahima Vat, and three others are still on the run. A manager was kidnapped by a group of people in Bengaluru and demanded ₹ 2.5 crore.(Representative Image/Unsplash) Also Read - Cop opens fire on murder accused after attack on constable near Bengaluru: Report According to the report, the victim, Lawrence Melwin, had returned to Bengaluru on vacation and was staying at a hotel on Residency Road. His disappearance came to light when his mother, Leena Antony, filed a missing complaint on July 16, saying she had not heard from him since July 14. How he was kidnapped? The report further said that on July 14, Mahima invited Melwin for a drive in a car she had booked. Near Koramangala, the driver diverted the route, and two men got in. They allegedly assaulted Melwin, covered his face, and snatched his phone and a bag containing ₹1 lakh. He was then taken to a service apartment and held captive. Also Read - '3 creepy men, 3 traumatised girls': Bengaluru women film chilling stalking incident near JP Nagar Police told the publication that the kidnappers tied up Melwin, beat him, and demanded ₹50 lakh for his release. Though he tried negotiating down to ₹20 lakh, the captors later escalated their demand to a staggering ₹2.5 crore. During his week-long confinement, Melwin was locked in a room, fed sparingly, and closely monitored. He even attempted to starve himself, hoping to be taken to a hospital. The breakthrough came on July 22, when a woman living in a neighbouring flat heard his muffled cries for help. After the kidnappers stepped out, she helped him make a call to his sister, alerting the family. Meanwhile, the police, acting on local intelligence, had already tracked and arrested four men, Mohammed Asif Risaldar (42), Mohammed Sohail Sheikh (25), Salman Pasha (22), and Mohammed Nawaz (27), who were allegedly keeping watch over the apartment. Sensing a police crackdown, the remaining gang members panicked, forced Melwin into a car, and dumped him near Yeshwanthpur before fleeing. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Hakay Akshay Machhindra confirmed that efforts are on to nab Mahima and her absconding associates. A case of abduction, assault, and extortion has been registered.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Police rescue man kidnapped by female friend for ransom in Bengaluru; four arrested
The Ashoknagar police recently cracked a kidnapping case and rescued a 37-year-old manager of a private company who was allegedly kidnapped by his female friend and her associates demanding ransom. The police managed to arrest four of the accused identified as Mohammed Asif Risaldar, 42, Mohammed Sohail Sheikh, 25, both from R.T. Nagar; Salman Pasha, 22, from D.J. Halli; and Mohammed Nawaz, 27, from K.G. Halli, on Saturday. The female friend of the victim identified as Mahima Vat, who is the prime accused in the case along with her three associates, is on the run. Efforts are on to track them down, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) Hakay Akshay Machhindra, said on Saturday. According to the police, the victim, identified as Lawrence Melwin, worked as a manager at a Dubai-based travel company and had come to Bengaluru on a vacation and stayed at his parents' house before checking into a hotel on Residency Road. The incident came to light when the victim's mother Leena Antony filed a complaint on July 16, claiming that her son, who was staying at the hotel was missing mysteriously and not responding to calls since July 14. The Ashoknagar police registered a missing person complaint and launched a probe. During the investigation, it was revealed that on July 14, Melwin left in a car with Mahima allegedly booked by her. However, near Koramangala, the driver reportedly took a detour and he stopped a few metres ahead where two others got inside the car. Melwin's face was allegedly covered with a mask, and he was beaten up. The suspects allegedly took his phone and a bag containing ₹1 lakh. He was then taken to a service apartment where he was allegedly tied up and tortured physically and a demand was made for ₹50 lakh in cash for his release. Melwin tried to negotiate it down to ₹20 lakh, but to no avail. Melwin reportedly told the police that the suspects used to lock him inside the room and feed him before going out. Melwin even tried to starve himself, thinking they would take him to the hospital. When he agreed to pay ₹50 lakh, they allegedly demanded ₹2.5 crore. The case took an interesting turn on July 22 when a woman from a neighbouring apartment heard Melwin's cries for help after the accused left. With the woman's help, he called his sister and informed her that he was in trouble. When his captors returned they realised that something was amiss and forced him into a car before dropping him off near Yeshwantpur. This was because the police had managed to arrest the four people who were keeping a watch on the apartment after tracing them through local intelligence.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Man working in Dubai kidnapped inBengaluru, cops suspect financial dispute
Bengaluru: It had all the trappings of a gripping kidnap thriller: He received a call and the woman told him to step out of the pub and get into a car waiting outside with its headlights blinking. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Eager to meet her, he stepped out, spotted the vehicle, and confirmed with the driver whether she had sent it. The driver nodded and he got in. But instead of heading towards Koramangala as expected, the cab took a different route. That's when a sense of unease crept in. His fears came true moments later when two men suddenly entered the car and began assaulting him. It was clear now: he was taken! That marked the beginning of the ordeal for 37-year-old Lawrence Melwin, a native of Kerala, who worked as a manager in a travel agency in Dubai. According to Ashoknagar police, Melwin had come to Bengaluru to visit his family staying at Basavanagar. On July 14, Melwin visited a club in Indiranagar and it was when he received a call from a woman named Mahima Watt stating he could meet her and she would send a cab to pick him up. "I stepped out of the club around 3am. A cab with blinking lights stopped for me as Mahima had said. But two men later entered, assaulted me, and grabbed my bag, which contained Rs 1 lakh and two iPhones. They forced me to share the passwords of the phones," Melwin told police. He was later driven to a service apartment and locked in the flat. "A third man entered the flat and demanded Rs 50 lakh to release me. I told them that I could arrange Rs 20 lakh, but they refused. They locked me in a room and provided food," Melwin narrated. Meanwhile, the miscreants made Melwin send voice messages from his phone to his family members, saying he was in Kodagu. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The kidnappers allegedly upped the ransom to Rs 2.5 crore and threatened him with dire consequences if he failed to pay up. On July 22, Melwin saw hope when a woman in the neighbouring flat responded to his cries for help. "I shared my sister's mobile number with her, requesting her to inform her that I was here," Melwin said. His family members suspected something was amiss and filed a complaint with Ashoknagar police. Cops found that his mobile phone's last location was in Hebbal. By then, the kidnappers realised that the location was no longer a secret and moved him out. "I was quickly bundled into their car. After reaching Yeshwanthpur, they stopped near a star hotel and forced me to say I had Schizophrenia and that was why I felt I had been kidnapped. They recorded my statement on their mobile phones. Handing over a keypad mobile and my SIM along with Rs 1,000 in cash, they warned me not to approach police, or else, they would finish me," Melwin stated. Using the phone, Melwin called his sister, and by then, cops, who had discovered his mobile location, reached the place. Based on the information, police arrested four accused: Mohammed Asif Risaldar, 42, Mohammed Sohail Sheik, 25, of RT Nagar, Salman Pasha, 22, of DJ Halli, and Mohammed Nawaz, 27, of KG Halli. While Risaldar and Sheik work as commission agents at Kandaya Bhavan on KG Road, others are employed in garages. "These four accused worked as directed by Mahima and two others," police said. Now the question is: Who is Mahima? Melwin told police: "We met at a party in the city (Bengaluru), and since then, we have been friends." Asked why Mahima decided to kidnap him, Melwin said he had no idea. "We have many loose ends in the case, and the missing dots will get connected once we get Mahima and others into our custody. Presently, Mahima and two of her close friends are elusive. Special teams have gone to Mumbai and Vijayapura in search of them. It looks like a financial dispute gone wrong," an investigating officer said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Police rescue man abducted by female friend for ransom; four arrested
The Ashok Nagar police have recently cracked an abduction case and rescued a 37-year-old manager of a private company who was abducted by his female friend and her associates demanding ransom. The police managed to arrest four among the accused identified as Mohammed Asif Risaldar, 42, Mohammed Sohail Sheikh, 25, both from R.T. Nagar; Salman Pasha, 22, from D.J. Halli; and Mohammed Nawaz, 27, from K.G. Halli, on Saturday. The female friend of the victim identified as Mahima Vat, who is the prime accused in the case along with her three associates are on the run. Efforts are on to track them down, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) Hakay Akshay Machhindra, said on Saturday. According to the police, the victim, identified as Lawrence Melwin, worked as a manager at a Dubai-based travel company and had come to Bengaluru on a vacation and stayed at his parent's house before checking into a hotel on Residency Road. The incident came to light when the victim's mother Leena Antony filed a complaint on July 16, claiming that her son, who was staying at the hotel was missing mysteriously and not responding to calls since July 14. The Ashok Nagar police registered a missing persons case and launched the probe. During the investigation, it was revealed that on July 14, Melwin left in a car with Mahima allegedly booked by her. However, near Koramangala, the driver took a detour and he stopped a few meters ahead where two others got inside the car. Melwin's face was allegedly covered with a cloth mask, and he was beaten up. The suspects allegedly took his phone and a bag containing ₹1 lakh. He was then taken to a service apartment where he was tied up and tortured physically demanding ₹50 lakh in cash for his release. Melwin tried to negotiate it down to ₹20 lakh, but to no avail. Melwin told the police that the suspects used to lock him inside the room and feed him before going out. Melwin even tried to starve himself, thinking they would take him to the hospital. When he agreed to pay ₹50 lakh, they allegedly demanded ₹2.5 crore. The case took an interesting turn on July 22 when a woman from a neighbouring apartment heard Melwin's cries for help after the accused left. With the woman's help, he called his sister and informed her that he was in trouble. When his captors returned they realised that something was amiss and forced him into a car before dropping him off near Yeshwantpur. This was because the police had managed to arrest the four people who were keeping a watch on the apartment after tracing them through local intelligence. The police are now on the manhunt for the accused who are on the run.
News18
4 days ago
- News18
Bengaluru: Four held for abducting man; ex-girlfriend named as mastermind
Bengaluru, Jul 26 (PTI) A man reported missing was traced and rescued after police arrested four suspects in connection with a kidnapping plot allegedly planned by his ex-girlfriend. The arrested have been identified as Mohammed Asif Risaldar (42), Mohammed Sohail Sheikh (25), Salman Pasha (22), and Mohammed Nawaz (27), police added. Lawrence Melwin, in his 30s, had worked in Dubai for the past six years as a manager with a travel agency. He returned to Bengaluru six to seven months ago to care for his ailing father, police said. Melwin, known to be a skilled poker player, is believed to have amassed 'considerable wealth" through the game, they added. The case came to light on July 16 when Melwin's mother filed a missing person complaint at the Ashok Nagar police station. She told police that her son, who had been staying at a hotel after a brief stay at home, had not responded to calls since July 14. Investigations revealed that Melwin had left in a cab with his former girlfriend in the early hours of July 14. She had allegedly insisted on meeting him and booked the cab, police said. After travelling some distance, the cab took a detour and stopped a short distance away, at which point two men entered the vehicle and allegedly covered Melwin's face with a cloth mask. Melwin was taken to a service apartment, where he was held captive for several days. The abductors demanded Rs 50 lakh for his release, police claimed. Despite being 'confined and beaten", Melwin managed to send a distress message to his family through someone who volunteered to help after hearing his cries, leading police to the location. On July 23, using technical surveillance and local intelligence, police traced the service apartment and rescued Melwin. The four accused were arrested, eventually. During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed that Melwin's former girlfriend had masterminded the abduction with help from her associates. Police said efforts are underway to trace and arrest the remaining accused. PTI AMP SSK view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 21:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
