Ransom paid,businessman’s son is freed

Abductors set free the minor son of a rich Chennai businessmen near his home on Tuesday afternoon after the family paid ransom to secure his release.

The daring daytime kidnapping that took place on Monday evening had kept the police and the family on the edge for two days. The boy’s family paid ransom though they remained tight-lipped about the exact amount,the nature of transaction and other details. Addressing a press conference in the evening,city police commissioner T Rajendran said the family paid a minimal amount. There were unconfirmed rumours,though,that the family allegedly paid Rs 1-1.5 crore to the gang that had demanded Rs 3 crore.

R Keerthivasan,14,was abducted by a two-member gang when he was on his way back from school on Monday evening. The men forced their entry into the vehicle the boy was travelling in at a traffic signal and pushed the driver out at knifepoint. The vehicle was later found a few kilometres away.The kidnapping drama comes close on the heels of the abduction and murder of two children in Coimbatore a days ago.

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Keerthivasan’s father Ramesh deals in mining,dredging and other businesses. A few months ago,he had complained to the police about receiving threatening calls.

Police are questioning driver Govindaraj to ascertain if he was involved in the plot.