CHENNAI: Police on Saturday arrested in Avadi two of 10 men who kidnapped a 21-year-old man after his father failed to repay a sum of Rs 3 lakh he had borrowed from a financier. Police identified the kidnapped man as Sekar, son of Mani of Kamarajar Street in Avadi, and said he was released two days after being abducted.
Three years ago, an officer said, Mani borrowed Rs 3 lakh from Shanmugam, a financier, on interest. A year later, he started defaulting in paying it. Shanmugham then began abusing Mani, making frequent visits to his house and demanding the money. Mani managed to return Rs 1 lakh and promised to return the remaining sum soon.
On July 27, Shanmugham barged into his house. He wasn’t there, but Shanmugam and a few others bundled Sekar into a car and escaped. He made a call to Mani asking him to pay the sum and free his son. Mani managed to arrange Rs 2 lakh and paid it to one of the gang members. The abductors warned him not to approach police and on July 29 released Sekar on a deserted stretch near Avadi Tank factory.
Based on a complaint lodged by Sekar at the Avadi Tank Factory police station, a team nabbed Shanmugham’s son Baskar, 34, of Paruthipattu and Rajendran, 24, of Nerkundram. Police have launched a hunt for the others in the gang, suspected to have been hired by Shanmugham. Some of them are believed to be the relatives and friends of the financier. CCTV camera footage seized from the scene is being scanned to nab the remaining accused.
Police said the gang members locked up Sekar in a room and allegedly tortured him.
