Accused was a close family friend

According the police, Monu Sachdeva was a close friend of the victim and her family since over four years, and would visit their Nagpada home frequently.

According the police, Monu Sachdeva was a close friend of the victim and her family since over four years, and would visit their Nagpada home frequently.

Sachdeva was in love with Vinita (name changed) and had told her about it several times, but she always spurned his advances as she had a boyfriend. However, she considered him to be a good friend.

He was allegedly infuriated after she turned him down again recently and hatched the plot to avenge the insult.

On Monday night, when Sachdeva abducted their 12-year-old sister and the child by telling them they would be going for a drive, none of the sisters suspected Sachdeva as he is very close to the family.

It was only when the police zeroed in on him as the suspect and got Vinita to call and ask him to meet her at their Nagpada home, that his role came to light.

“As soon as Sachdeva came to her house, we nabbed him and brought him to the police station, where he admitted to the crime. We have rescued the girl and the child and have also seized the car. The girl has been sent for counselling,” said Sanjay Kadam, senior police inspector of Nagpada police station.

Love turned into anger after 4-year wait

Little Yadavlittle.yadav@hindustantimes.commumbai: Monu Sachdeva, 25, comes from a well-to-do family and owns a hotel in Chembur. He had been visiting Vinita (name changed) frequently at her home and sometimes at the bar in Byculla where she worked.

According to sources in the police, Sachdeva used to provide financial assistance to Vinita. However, he got angry when she did not reciprocate his feelings even after four years.

A few days ago, Sachdeva had proposed marriage to her, but her answer remained the same. This irked Sachdeva as he felt cheated, said a police officer.

Another police officer said that Sachdeva was so close to the family that he would sometimes sleep over at their place in Nagpada.

He would come to meet them almost every day, and his car was always at their disposal. He would drive them down wherever they wanted.

Vinita and her sister could not believe it when the police told them that Sachdeva could be behind the kidnapping.

“The women were quite sure that Sachdeva cannot do anything like this as he is very close to the family. However, when he was arrested and confessed to the crime, it left them baffled,” said a police officer requesting anonymity.