BSC student held in connection with kidnapping and robbery cases
NEWDELHI: A 22-year-old BSC final year student who has allegedly been involved in multiple cases of kidnapping for ransom, including one from outside the Delhi airport three years ago, has been arrested, police said on Tuesday.
Tarif was carrying a total reward of ₹75,000 on his arrest, including ₹50,000 announced by the Delhi Police in connection with the kidnapping case.
Police said Tarif and his immediate family members carry a total reward of ₹1.2 lakh on their arrests. “Tarif’s father is absconding since 2008 in a murder case and carries a reward of ₹15,000 on his arrest. His mother and brother too have rewards of ₹15,000 each on their heads,” said PS Kushwah, deputy commissioner of police (special cell).
Hailing from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Tarif had begun pursuing BSC from a college in his home town in 2015. Around the same time, he made his foray into the crime world and befriended some criminals from the notorious Mewati gang, said the DCP.
Tarif particularly indulged in kidnapping for ransom, a crime the Mewati gang has taken up in the recent years. “They lure wealthy businessmen on the pretext of dealing in steel scraps or gold biscuits, kidnap them and then seek ransom. Families of most victims choose to pay the ransom money without informing police,” said the DCP.
In June 2015, Tarif and his associates had used the same modus operandi to target a Chennai-based businessman who dealt in steel scrap. “Tarif kidnapped the businessman in a car moments after he emerged from the Delhi airport. ₹50 lakh was demanded as ransom amount, but his family has alerted the Delhi Police,” said the DCP.
A raid conducted at a Haryana village soon after that had forced Tarif and his associates to let go of the businessman, said the DCP. Tarif had managed to escape, attracting the ₹50,000 reward on his arrest.
Tarif allegedly continued to pursue his graduation as well as crime simultaneously. A tip-off on Monday led to Tarif’s arrest from Nuh in Haryana.