In a bizarre twist, the Podanur police in Coimbatore arrested four men, including two policemen, on charges of kidnapping two young men and demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. However, the victims were also taken into custody after investigations revealed their involvement in illegal online lottery sales.
Arrests Made in Kidnapping Case
The arrested kidnappers have been identified as J Kaalidas, 31, and J Ramkumar, 31, both from Tirupur, along with P Mohan, 37, and V Anand, 38. Mohan and Anand are policemen attached to the Nallur police station in Tirupur. The incident came to light on Tuesday evening when a 31-year-old woman from Indira Nagar in Podanur filed a complaint stating that her younger brother, M Navin, 29, and his friend, P Nirmal Kumar, 29, had been kidnapped by unidentified men on Monday. The kidnappers contacted her over the phone and demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh, threatening to kill the victims if the amount was not paid immediately.
Police Trap Leads to Arrests
The Podanur police registered a case under Section 140(2) of the BNS Act and launched an investigation. Officers set up a trap, directing Navin's family to travel to Veerapandi in Tirupur to deliver the money. While they waited, Mohan and Anand arrived to collect the cash and were detained by officers stationed at the spot. Meanwhile, the other suspects left Navin and Nirmal Kumar near Bhavani in Erode and attempted to flee, but they were also arrested. A police official stated that Kaalidas and Ramkumar had planned and executed the kidnapping, while the two policemen, who were known to them, did not participate in the kidnapping but came to collect the ransom. All four were booked and remanded in judicial custody.
Victims Found Involved in Illegal Lottery Sales
During the investigation, police discovered that Navin and Nirmal Kumar were involved in illegal online lottery sales. A separate case was registered against them for this offense, and they were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. The case highlights the complex nature of criminal activities in the region.
