Buried under debt, he wanted to holiday with girlfriend in Macau

Pawan Verma (22), son of a Karol Bagh trader, reportedly faked his own abduction for a childhood sweetheart.

Pawan Verma (22), son of a Karol Bagh trader, reportedly faked his own abduction for a childhood sweetheart.

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“His girlfriend wanted to celebrate the New Year’s eve in Macau. He wanted to fulfill her wish but was not able to bear the expenses, as he was already under a debt of Rs 8.5 lakh,” said a senior police officer.

Police said Verma could walk free if his father, Ram Sahay Verma, wishes so.

“Since Verma has been arrested and sent to jail, only the competent court can decide whether the case can be cancelled on his father’s request. If the father, who is a complainant in the case, decides to withdraw the complaint, the son can walk free with the orders of the court,” said a police officer.

On Saturday, Verma left his shop in Karol Bagh on the pretext of meeting a person who would tell him about shady goings on in his shop. Verma managed one of the two shops of his father in Karol Bagh.

“When he did not return, his father called on his mobile phone and was told that he was being beaten up. After five minutes he again got a call that Verma had been abducted and a ransom of Rs 20 lakh was demanded. These calls were made by Verma’s friend Himanshu Kumar,” said Jaspal Singh, DCP (central).

Police said Verma was fond of luxury cars, bowling and was a regular visitor at some famous bars and pubs. But he had not told his father about his debts.