Second accused in Laila Khan kidnapping case picked up

"Aasif Shaikh, one of the two accused booked for kidnapping, has been picked up from suburban Juhu. He will be handed over to Mumbai Crime Branch, which is probing the case," an ATS official said.

The main accused, Parvez Iqbal Tak, is currently in custody of Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Mumbai Police had yesterday registered a kidnapping case against Tak and Shaikh following a complaint by Nadir Patel, father of Laila, whose real name is Reshma Patel.

Laila has been missing for over a year.

Tak has told his interrogators that Laila, her mother, sister and a friend were killed in Maharashtra in February last year. However, Laila's father has contested Tak's claim. Crime Branch has neither confirmed nor denied the claim.

On June 21, Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Tak, a local forest contractor who had gone underground after a SUV belonging to Laila was recovered from his place in Kishtwar town.

According to the complaint filed by Patel, Laila, along with six other family members, including her mother Shelina (50), elder sister Hazmina, twin siblings Zara and Imran and a relative, were allegedly kidnapped by the two accused in February last from her flat in suburban Oshiwara.