Cash-strapped man kidnaps minor cousin, lands in net

An eight-year-old girl who was reportedly kidnapped by two persons -- one of them her cousin brother -- was rescued by police on Thursday night.

An eight-year-old girl who was reportedly kidnapped by two persons -- one of them her cousin brother -- was rescued by police on Thursday night.

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The accused cousin was going through a financial crisis and was inspired by the Ajay Devgan-starrer Apharan to commit the crime, police said.

On August 19, Akshita Madan, daughter of a nursing attendant was allegedly kidnapped when she was on her way to attend a tuition class.

The accused are Vikas Sethi (23), the cousin, and Shahid Ahmed (22), a barber.

“Her mother got ransom calls. The accused asked her not to hand over the ransom money to any relative. We got suspicious and kept a watch on the relatives of the victim,” said HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (south).

The accused asked for Rs 5 lakh from her mother.

“As the victim knew the accused, she did not raise any voice. They kept her at Ahmed’s salon for a day till we rescued her,” said the officer.

Sethi used Mumbai bhai language while making ransom calls. Investigations said Sethi was a “dubious character” and his financial condition was not sound.