Reshma, the undertrial who was found hanging in her jail cell inside the Tihar Jail complex on Thursday, was being prosecuted for being part of a kidnapping gang.
She was arrested in 2011 along with her five male accomplices — including a juvenile — for kidnapping a resident of Jaitpur and demanding a ransom of Rs10 lakh. An official of the prison said Reshma was under depression and had been undergoing treatment. She had attempted suicide earlier as well.
A senior police official of south-east district police told The Pioneer that in October 2011, a compliant about the abduction of Asad Sheikh, a resident of Madanpur Khadar, was received. “The complaint was lodged by Asad’s wife Shafia. Following her statement, a case was registered under Section 365 of the IPC at Jaitpur police station and investigation was initiated,” the officer added.
Meanwhile, the abductor had called on the mobile phone of the victim’s maternal uncle and demanded ransom. The caller confirmed his name as Vikram alias Vicky. He had demanded Rs10 lakh for the safe release of Asad. The complainant and Asad’s maternal uncle went to Mumbai to arrange the money. However, the police traced the call which led to the location of the victim as well as kidnappers. Sleuths zeroed-in on a hideout in Gurgaon.
“Acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted and the victim was rescued and one Jaipal Singh Poswal, who was apprehended from the spot. On their instances, one more accused, Deepak was arrested. later, other accused including Reshma were also apprehended,” the officer added.
During interrogation, accused Jaipal told the police that he along with his younger brother, Jai Singh Poswal, Vikram Yadav, Himanshu (brother-in-law of Jai) and Deepak and Reshma had hatched the plan to abduct Asad Shaikh for ransom.
It was Reshma who called Asad on October 25, 2011 to come to Faridabad. After which she and her associates kidnapped him in their Wagon-R car. “After kidnapping him, they took him to Mohd Pur, Gurgaon and called the maternal uncle of the victim for a ransom of Rs 10 lakh,” an officer said.