Jamshedpur Industrialist's Son Kidnapping Case Takes Dramatic Turn with Police Encounter
The kidnapping case of Kairav Gandhi, son of prominent Jamshedpur industrialist Devang Gandhi, has taken a dramatic turn with three accused individuals sustaining injuries during a police encounter late Thursday night. The January 13 abduction had sent shockwaves through the city's political, business, and social circles, creating widespread concern for the young victim's safety.
Encounter During Evidence Recovery Operation
According to Jamshedpur Senior Superintendent of Police Piyush Pandey, the incident occurred between 2:30 am and 3:00 am on Friday when police were transporting arrested suspects to recover weapons used in the kidnapping. The suspects attempted to escape by snatching a firearm from an accompanying police officer, prompting the police team to fire in self-defense to prevent their escape.
The injured accused have been identified as Guddu, Imran, and Ramiz, all of whom sustained gunshot wounds to their legs during the encounter near a temple in the Bistupur police station area. All three are currently undergoing treatment at MGM Hospital and are reported to be out of danger.
Weapons Hidden to Evade Police Checks
Police interrogation revealed that the kidnappers had strategically hidden their firearms in bushes behind the temple area to avoid detection during police checks and toll barriers. "When they kidnapped Kairav Gandhi, they forced him into the vehicle at gunpoint," explained SSP Pandey. "Anticipating police checks, they hid the weapons nearby and moved ahead."
The police team was taking the suspects to recover these weapons when the escape attempt and subsequent encounter occurred. Fortunately, no police personnel were injured during the incident, though firing was directed at the Bistupur police station officer-in-charge, who escaped unhurt.
Complex Investigation and Victim's Movement
The investigation has revealed a complex trail of movement following the abduction. Within hours of the kidnapping complaint, police recovered Kairav Gandhi's car from bushes near Silver Sand Resort in the Kanderbera area of neighboring Seraikela-Kharsawan district. The vehicle was found abandoned with keys beneath the mat, but the victim was missing.
Technical surveillance indicated that Kairav's last mobile phone location was traced to Adarsh Nagar under Sonari police station limits before being switched off. Police sources revealed that the kidnappers moved Kairav from Kanderbera through Chandil into Bihar, where he was initially taken to Nawada and kept there for several days before being shifted to various locations in Gaya district.
Successful Rescue After 14-Day Captivity
After an intensive 14-day search operation involving multiple police teams conducting raids across Bihar districts including Gaya, Nalanda, and Nawada, Kairav Gandhi was successfully rescued in the early hours of January 27 from the Hazaribagh-Bihar border area. The victim was safely handed over to his family, though neither the family nor police issued immediate public statements following the recovery.
Two days prior to the rescue, Director General of Police Tadasha Mishra had visited Jamshedpur to review the investigation, which police officials described as routine at the time.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Developments
SSP Piyush Pandey confirmed that more than three arrests have been made in the case so far, with the exact number to be disclosed through formal briefing or official communication. The three injured accused were among those with knowledge of the firearms used during the kidnapping.
"The investigation is ongoing and all aspects of the kidnapping are being examined," stated Pandey, including the victim's movement patterns, arms procurement methods, and the wider network involved in the crime. The police official indicated that "possibly more arrests could be done in future" as the investigation progresses.
When contacted for comment, industrialist Devang Gandhi declined to discuss the case at this time. The incident continues to highlight the challenges law enforcement faces in dealing with high-profile kidnapping cases and the lengths to which criminals will go to evade capture.
