5-year-old girl rescued in Mumbai within 24 hours of abduction, two held

Mumbai city news: The police said the girl was kidnapped on Friday evening by Shaikh, a relative of the minor, while she was playing outside her house in Maharashtra Nagar, Mankhurd

The Mumbai crime branch (Unit 6) arrested two persons on Monday for allegedly kidnapping a 5-year-old girl and demanding a ransom of Rs10 lakh from her parents. The police rescued the minor within 24 hours from Mumbra, where Imran Shaikh, 24, and Abbas Khan, 36, had kept her at their friend’s house.

The girl’s parents approached the police after they received the Rs10 lakh ransom call.

The police said the girl was kidnapped on Friday evening by Shaikh, a relative of the minor, while she was playing outside her house in Maharashtra Nagar, Mankhurd. Her father is a local businessman and deals in nylon bags. They added that Shaikh was accompanied by Abbas.

“The two then kept the girl at their friend’s place. They lied to him saying that the girl was their niece and her parents had asked them to look after her while they were visiting their home town,” said inspector Pritam Parab from Unit 6.

The girl’s parents approached the police after they received the Rs10 lakh ransom call. Initial inquiry revealed that the SIM card using which the ransom call was made was purchased from Shivaji Nagar and the accused were present in the area when the call was made.

He said Shaikh told them that he had approached the girl’s father two weeks ago seeking financial help, but the man refused to help. Angered at being snubbed, Shiakh decided to teach the girl’s father a lesson and kidnapped the girl.