Police arrest man involved in 2016 kidnapping case

An associate of gangster Mahesh Thekedar, who died earlier this year was arrested by the police in connection with a 2016 kidnapping case of the son of an ex-councilor in Rohini, police said Wednesday.

The accused - Vijay (36), a resident of Prehladpur village, also declared a proclaimed offender by the court was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000, they said.

Following a tip off, the accused was arrested on Monday from near sector 35 in Rohini, police said.

On September 27, 2016, the 20-year-old son of the ex-councilor, a resident of Budh Vihar left his house in his BMW car and was intercepted by the Vijay and others near PP Jewellers at Netaji Subhash Place.

One of accused was wearing a traffic policeman's uniform while another was in Khaki uniform, Rajiv Ranjan, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) said.

As the victim stopped his car, the kidnappers who came in a Scorpio car bundled the victim and sped off.

They demanded a ransom of Rs 50 crore from the ex-councilor. The victim's father negotiated and paid Rs One crore to them with the promise to pay another installment of Rs one crore after the safe release of his son.

The victim was released by the kidnappers in Gurgaon on October 3, 2016, the officer said.

Thekedar, alleged to be the kingpin behind the kidnapping died after he jumped from the first floor of the building in a bid to escape when police team raided his place in Panipat in the intervening night of February 11 and 12 this year, police said.