In a shocking case from Uttar Pradesh, a 35-year-old office assistant from Lucknow fabricated his own abduction to escape the immense pressure of debts he accumulated through illegal online gaming and instant loan applications.
A Desperate Disappearance
The incident came to light when Sunil Kumar, a resident of Para Road, filed a missing person report at the Krishnanagar police station on January 6. He stated that his brother, Rajnish Kumar, had vanished under suspicious circumstances, prompting immediate police action. ACP Krishnanagar Rajneesh Verma confirmed that two special teams were formed to investigate the disappearance.
Rajnish, who worked as an office assistant in the electricity department at Indralok Colony in Vijay Nagar, had gone missing earlier in the week. His family, fearing he had been kidnapped, approached the Lucknow Police Commissionerate for help.
The Downward Spiral of Online Betting
According to the police investigation, Rajnish had become deeply addicted to online gaming. Over time, his betting habit on multiple gaming applications spiraled out of control, leading to staggering losses of nearly Rs 40 lakh. To finance this addiction, he turned to numerous online lending platforms, taking out instant loans.
As the repayments mounted, the harassment from lenders intensified. Rajnish reportedly began receiving threatening calls. The lenders warned him that his private photos and videos would be publicly circulated if he failed to clear the dues. Overwhelmed by fear and mental stress, he saw no way out.
The Elaborate Ruse and Swift Resolution
Faced with the dual pressure of intimidating lenders and facing his family, Rajnish chose to disappear. Police said that to buy time and create a cover story, he falsely informed his relatives that he had been kidnapped. He then quietly left Lucknow, traveling first to Delhi and later to Bareilly.
The breakthrough in the case came within 72 hours of the complaint. Rajnish made a brief phone call back home from a roadside tea stall in Bareilly, apparently to arrange payment for a cup of tea. This call allowed police teams to track his location to Bareilly, where he was found and the truth behind his disappearance was uncovered.
The case highlights the severe dangers of illegal online betting and the predatory practices of some instant loan apps, which can push individuals into extreme situations. Police have now taken appropriate action regarding the fabricated kidnapping complaint.
