Now, police not sure if family paid ransom

The gang, hitherto involved in a number of petty thefts, is an ‘‘unprofessional’’ one, operating in the northern part of the city and North 24-Parganas for quite some time, top sources in Kolkata Police told Express.

Those arrested are Damodar, Dilip, Bikash, Gunjan, Munna, Gudda, Chander and Binod but the kingpin was believed to be at large. Sources revealed that two days before the kidnap, the gang surveyed the spot and met Damodar, the gatekeeper of the neighbouring building. Damodar apparently provided the gang information on when Roma would leave the house and return everyday.

The accused told police that they had panicked once local alerts were issued. They had taken Roma around the city, changing cars thrice. They then returned and made ransom calls at her Salt Lake residence. The negotiation for ransom, sources said, was struck around 3 am the next morning at an Ultadanga sweets shop. The Express, however, has learnt that Rs 25 lakh had been paid as ransom to the abductors and of that, Rs 20 lakh has been recovered from the accused.

Around 4.45 am, the girl was spotted by the Beliaghata patrolling party, who handed her over to the CID. One of the investigating officers said the girl was ‘‘not drugged’’ when she was found by the cops but the IG stuck to his version. The police have also recovered the Maruti van used for the kidnapping. ‘‘We have seized the mobile phone the girl was carrying and those used by the abductors,’’ Mukherjee said.

All those arrested are around 30 years old. Three of them have criminal background, he said. They will be produced in court on Monday.

Mukherjee, however, ruled out the girl’s involvement in the kidnapping. ‘‘It was a case of abduction to make a fast buck and the girl had no role in that,’’ Mukherjee said.