A probe by the Pune city police has revealed that a 35-year-old businessman from Bibvewadi was not kidnapped by anyone. Instead, the businessman, who appeared before the police on Friday, gave a statement that he faked his kidnapping due to alleged harassment faced by him from money lenders, whom he had taken loans from. The businessman's wife had lodged a first information report (FIR) of kidnapping at the Bibwewadi police station in the early hours of March 4. According to the FIR, unidentified persons allegedly kidnapped the businessman on the evening of March 3. Then, around 6 pm the same day, his wife received a phone call from a person saying her husband had been kidnapped. The kidnapper allegedly demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore from the businessman's wife to release him. The kidnapper also told her to tell her father-in-law to keep the money ready, said the FIR. Police booked the unidentified kidnapper in this case as per section 140 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police teams launched a probe into this case. Following leads obtained during investigation, cops reached the businessman on Friday. He was brought to Bibwewadi police station for investigation. Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajkumar Shinde said the businessman had faked his kidnapping. He gave a statement to the police that he had taken loans from about ten persons. They demanded he return the money with interest. However, he was unable to repay the loans, due to which he made a fake kidnapping and ransom call to his family members. He then went to Ravet via Nawale bridge and from there he reached Kalamboli in Mumbai in a private vehicle. He stayed at hotels in different locations in Mumbai. Police are investigating further.
