The gang that kidnapped ‘Welcome’ actor Mushtaq Mohammad Khan after inviting him to an “event” in Meerut wanted to kidnap actor Shakti Kapoor too by following the same modus operandi, police have said.
Four members of the gang have been arrested for kidnapping Khan. As per a complaint filed by his event manager Shivan Yadav, Lavi alias Rahul Saini had on October 15 sent an advance payment of Rs 25,000 and an air ticket to invite Khan to an event in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Upon arriving at the Delhi airport on November 20, Mushtaq was received by a cab driver who took him to a famous ‘shikanji’ shop between Meerut and Delhi.
Khan was forced into another vehicle and he was then threatened and informed that he had been kidnapped and was being held captive at the home of Lavi, police said.
“During his captivity, the kidnappers took Mushtaq Khan’s bank account details and password. On the night of November 20, the accused consumed alcohol and slept. The following morning, Mushtaq Khan managed to escape and reached a mosque in Mohalla Chahshiri, where locals contacted his family and helped him return home,” PTI reported quoting police.
How Police Arrested Mushtaq Khan’s Kidnappers
The kidnappers withdrew Rs 2.2 lakh from Khan’s bank account while shopping in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar on November 21. Police have recovered Rs 1.04 lakh from the possession of the accused men. The gang was involved in abducting film stars by sending advance payments and air tickets under the guise of event invitations.
Shakti Kapoor was offered Rs 5 lakh to attend an event in Meerut but the deal was not final as he demanded “heavy” advance payment, PTI reported quoting officials. It is being investigated if the gang was involved in the kidnapping of other film stars.
