Bengaluru, 03 Oct (H.S.): A 40-year-old man who allegedly staged his own kidnapping to extract Rs 90 lakh from his father was arrested after police traced him to a house in Hassan, where he was sitting with two alleged accomplices.

Rajarajeshwari Nagar police arrested Manish Patel, identified as the alleged mastermind, and the two others following a complaint from his father, Manohar Patel, 62.

According to police, Manish left home on September 28 after telling his father that he was travelling to Gadag district for a financial transaction.

Around 8 a.m. the following day, Manohar received a WhatsApp call from his son’s mobile number. An unidentified caller claimed that Manish had been kidnapped and threatened to kill him unless the family paid Rs 90 lakh.

Police said the caller contacted Manohar four or five times before switching off the phone. Fearing for his son’s safety, Manohar approached the police and lodged a complaint.

Investigators initially attempted to trace Manish’s mobile phone, but it remained switched off, preventing them from locating him through that number.

The investigation took a decisive turn when Manohar received another call from an unknown number. The caller asked whether he had arranged the ransom money.

Police traced the number and its location to a house in Hassan. When officers reached the premises and opened the door, they found Manish sitting with the two men, according to investigators.

During questioning, Manish allegedly admitted that the kidnapping claim had been fabricated to obtain money from his father. Police said subsequent questioning established that the three had conspired to make the ransom demand.

Bengaluru West Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Yathish N. said all three accused had been arrested and further legal proceedings were under way. Police described the alleged kidnapping as a planned deception aimed at extracting the money.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman