Jeweller's Courtroom U-Turn Exposes Secret Deal in Kidnapping Case
In a sensational development that has rocked the legal proceedings, a 60-year-old Porbandar jeweller at the center of a high-profile kidnapping case has turned hostile during the trial, dramatically denying the incident ever occurred. Shockingly, the victim, Pratap Vala, later confessed to investigators that he had struck a clandestine agreement with the alleged abductors to recover the extorted money, leading police to file an application for criminal action against him for obstructing justice.
Court to Hear Police Application Against Hostile Witness
The Porbandar court is set to hear the police's urgent application on Thursday, seeking to file a formal complaint against Vala under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 229 and 236. The charges include intentionally providing false evidence, concealing crucial information, and actively obstructing the course of justice in a serious, non-compounding offence. This move follows Vala's startling testimony on December 30, 2025, where he claimed he did not recognize the accused and insisted the kidnapping never took place, directly contradicting an earlier identification parade conducted before an executive magistrate.
Details of the 2024 Kidnapping and Extortion
The case originated on April 26, 2024, when an FIR was registered at the Kirtimandir police station in Rajkot. According to the initial complaint, Vala, along with two associates named Veja and Lakhan, was lured to Jaipur by the accused under the false pretext of purchasing gold at a substantial 15% discount. During their journey by car, the group was intercepted at a remote, desolate location. Additional gang members arrived on the scene, tied up the three men, and forcibly abducted them.
The victims were held hostage for two agonizing days in an abandoned house, where they were allegedly subjected to brutal beatings with iron pipes and death threats. The kidnappers successfully extorted a ransom of Rs 20 lakh from Vala and also stole three mobile phones from the group. Following a swift investigation, police arrested seven individuals: Pratap Odedara, Ramji Katariya, Bharat Lathiya, Popat Odedra, Narendra Goswami, Ashok Kaliya, and Kamlesh Japadiya.
Due to their extensive criminal histories, Lathiya and Katariya faced additional charges under the stringent Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GUJCTOC) Act. Law enforcement officials managed to recover significant evidence, including Rs 10 lakh in cash, a car valued at Rs 12 lakh, eight mobile phones, and a knife. A chargesheet was subsequently filed, and the case was committed to the sessions court in November 2024.
Secret Settlement Unveiled After Hostile Testimony
Police grew deeply suspicious of Vala's sudden and complete reversal in court. Upon intensive questioning, Vala reportedly admitted that he had reached a private, undisclosed settlement with the accused. In this secret deal, the kidnappers secretly paid him the remaining balance of the extorted money. In exchange for this financial gain, Vala deliberately provided false testimony to shield the accused from prosecution, thereby compromising the entire judicial process.
Taking serious note of this egregious act, Local Crime Branch (LCB) Police Inspector R.K. Kambariya filed the formal application in the Porbandar court to initiate criminal proceedings against Vala. This case highlights the severe challenges faced by the justice system when victims, driven by personal financial motives, collude with perpetrators to undermine legal proceedings.
