Two out of four men were held by the Mumbra police after they allegedly kidnapped a bargirl over a souring relationship with one of the accused. In what turned out to be high drama, the quartet’s car was stopped by two bikers who chased the vehicle after hearing the girl’s cries for help. However, all of the accused managed to get away. Interestingly, two of the accused’s decision to lodge a stolen vehicle complaint — so as to not arouse suspicion — is what ultimately gave away their game as the police already knew about the car from a wireless alert sent to all police stations.
At around 8.30 pm on Wednesday, Sonia Ghazi (26) was allegedly forced into a Maruti Swift with four male occupants, which headed towards the highway. Near Mumbra railway station, Sonia screamed for help that was heard by Zulfikar Khan (60) and Asad Sheikh (24), who chased the car and intercepted it. Pintu Jaiswal (24) and Fateh Sheikh (42) along with two others took advantage of the commotion and ran away from the spot.
The two then went to Vartak Nagar police station and lodged a car theft complaint there. Officers, however, became suspicious, as the car’s description given by the accused was very similar to the one in the wireless alert that had circulated amongst all police stations after the two bikers stopped their car. The Vartak Nagar officials then informed their Mumbra counterparts and Jaiswal and Sheikh were arrested.
It appears that the kidnapping was not premeditated and was a spur-of-the-moment reaction by Jaiswal during an argument with Sonia. “The two were in a relationship and Jaiswal rented a flat in Mira Road at `5,000 for her after she expressed the need for accommodation. He met her on Wednesday when she suddenly said she did not need the place anymore. This led to an argument and Jaiswal asked her to return the money, subsequently pushing her into the car in a fit of rage,” said senior PI Shivshankar Munde of Mumbra police station.