Babloo Srivastava acquitted in 2003 kidnapping case

A court here has acquitted alleged underworld don Babloo Srivastava and his three associates, including Fazlu-ur-Rehman, in a 2003 kidnapping case of a Delhi-based businessman, a lawyer said on Saturday.

Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh on Friday acquitted Om Prakash Srivastava alias Babloo Srivastava, Fazlu-ur-Rehman alias Fazlu, Pradeep Kumar Khurana and Jitender Singh of the offence under section A364-A (kidnapping for ransom), 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, to commit extortion) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

Defence counsel of the accused, J. P. Bansal, told IANS that his client was falsely implicated in the case.

According to the prosecution, Sheetal Singh, a Delhi-based businessman who is into the business of manufacturing and marketing high security vehicle registration plates received an extortion threat from underworld gangster Babloo Srivastava and his associates.

One day Jitender called Singh and persuaded him to meet Babloo Srivastava in Lucknow jail to settle the matter. Subsequently, on March 11, 2003, Singh was abducted by Jitender and others and was taken to Babloo in Lucknow jail, police added.

There, Babloo threatened Singh and demanded Rs. 25 lakhs.

After a few days, Singh lodged a complaint against Babloo at the special cell of the Delhi police.

Babloo Srivastava, facing trial in various cases in India, was extradited from Singapore in 1995.