The Delhi Police has arrested 19-year-old youth for allegedly kidnapping and killing 8-year-old boy of his neighbour, in Delhi’s Aman Vihar area. Police said that even after the body of minor was recovered, the accused kept on calling child’s father for Rs 25 lakh ransom for safe release.
The accused has been identified as Gautam, a resident of Delhi’s Prem Nagar Extension near Aman Vihar and he is pursuing one year diploma in Information technology in a Institute in national Capital’s Rohini area.
According to Rajiv Ranjan, the Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, On July 23, 8-years-old minor went missing from the street outside his house about 9 pm, which was reported to police and a under section 363 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at Aman Vihar police station and the investigation was taken up.
“After 2 days of missing, the dead body of the child was recovered from Kiradi Drain in Pratap Vihar. The dead body was identified by the father of the deceased. His father had also received a phone-call on his mobile from someone claiming that the caller knew he was at Sanjay Gandhi hospital and the dead body recovered was not of his son but was of someone else,” said the Additional CP adding that the caller demanded a ransom of Rs 25 lakh for releasing his son.
“During investigation, the call details of the mobile number used for ransom, were analysed which was located in the vicinity of residence of complainant. Police also suspected that someone very close could be involved. Police also found Gautam, residing in adjoining house suspicious as he was again and again changing his statements,” said the Additional CP.
“Gautam was called for questioning and finally he broke down and confessed to the crime. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he needed money for his studies and prior to abduction of the 8 year-old child he had also committed theft of gold jewellary in the year 2018 but the victim family didn’t report it,” said the Additional CP.
“Gautam further told police that he was visiting the house of the child regularly and was familiar with the child. Gautam was under
impression that the child’s father is earning much and cash remains with his family most of the time,” said the Additional CP.
“Gautam alone hatched a conspiracy and even took a SIM card which was found by his friend on road in order to make ransom calls.
On July 23, when the child’s father was not at home, the accused around 9 pm abducted the child who was roaming in street outside the house,” said the Additional CP.
“Gautam took the boy with him on pretext of taking him to market and he then took the child to the Pratap Vihar drain where he pushed the child into the drain,” said the Additional CP adding that later the accused also joined with the family to search the child.
“Gautam also induced his friend into plan and on July 26, he made a call to the father and said that he is having a watch over his movement and knew that the child’s father was at Sanjay Gandhi hospital and he demanded 25 lakhs for release of child,” said the Additional CP.
“Later, child’s father agreed to pay the ransom amount and village Kheda area in sector 28 Rohini was fixed for delivery, but suspecting police presence, Gautam didn’t reach to collect the ransom amount,” said the Additional CP.
“The mobile phone with the SIM card used in the crime has been seized. Gautam have been arrested under appropriate section of law,” said the Additional CP.