UP Man Pretends to Be Kidnapped for Money, Arrested and Released on Bail

Bhadohi (UP): In a strange twist of fate, a 28-year-old Uttar Pradesh man pretended to be kidnapped in a bid to extort money from his father. But his scheme went awry when he was tracked and arrested in Pune, Maharashtra.

As per officials, Pradeep Chauhan, a Bhadohi resident, had sent a message to his father on March 7 stating that he had been kidnapped. As soon as he had sent the message, he had turned off his phone, causing concern among his family members. His anxious father, Rama Shankar Chauhan, immediately lodged a report with the police.

After investigation, the police tracked Pradeep to the Hinjewadi police station compound in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune. On the tip, the police apprehended him and brought him back to Bhadohi. Under interrogation, Pradeep confessed that he had left home on his own without disclosing his intentions to anyone and had not been abducted. He went on to admit that he had made up the kidnapping tale in an effort to trick his father into giving him money.

After his confession, a case was lodged against Pradeep under applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). His father, however, requested his release, pointing to the approaching Holi festival. Being bailable offenses, the police released him on bail, but at the expense of his father having to arrange for his release.

The event has caused apprehension regarding the abuse of fictitious abduction allegations and the pressure such fraudulent activity puts on police forces. The authorities called upon citizens to refrain from such activities, as there are legal repercussions that follow.

The police have warned that any future efforts of a similar kind might result in harsher legal action. In the meanwhile, Pradeep’s efforts have shocked and relieved both his family and the authorities that no actual harm had ensued.