Firozabad trader, for whom ₹100 cr ransom was demanded, traced

LUCKNOW: The STF on Friday traced Firozabad trader Sanjiv Gupta, who was allegedly abducted in Tundla area of the district on July 22. The kidnappers had demanded Rs 100 crore ransom from his family for his safe release. Talking to HT, a STF officer said, “Gupta ‘surrendered’ before the STF team in Panipat (Haryana) that had launched a manhunt in UP and neighbouring states to trace him.” “Prima facie kidnapping of Gupta looks suspicious. He seems to have scripted the kidnaping drama,” the officer said.

LUCKNOW: The Special Task Force (STF) on Friday traced Firozabad trader Sanjiv Gupta, who was allegedly abducted in Tundla area of the district on July 22.

The kidnappers had demanded Rs 100 crore ransom from his family for his safe release.

Talking to HT, a STF officer said, “Gupta ‘surrendered’ before the STF team in Panipat (Haryana) that had launched a manhunt in UP and neighbouring states to trace him.”

“Prima facie kidnapping of Gupta looks suspicious. He seems to have scripted the kidnaping drama and when pressure of STF increased, he surrendered,” the officer said.

SSP, STF Manoj Tiwari said “a STF team is interrogating Gupta to find out the truth about his kidnapping”.

A partner in the popular food chain Sagar Ratna, located on National Highway-2 near Raja Ka Taal village in Firozabad, Gupta was allegedly kidnapped while he was returing home in a car after attending a meeting.

When he did not reach home, which is just 2 km from his food chain outlet, his family members tried to phone him but both his mobile phones were found switched off.

His wife Sarika Gupta and her nephew Vikalp Gupta then lodged a missing complaint.

Later, the car of Gupta was found parked near a workshop on Firozabad-Aligarh border.

A ransom message was sent from Gupta’s mobile phone to Sarika and other family members through WhatsApp on July 23 night.

On Sarika’s complaint, police lodged FIR against Neeta Pandey, Pardeep Pandey and Amit Gupta, who are partners of Gupta in the business.

A senior police officer had then said that there was a dispute between the partners over transaction of money.

Four police teams were constituted to trace Gupta. The STF too was roped in to get him freed. Raids were conducted on hideouts of the suspected kidnappers in West UP.

Through electronic surveillance, STF traced the location of his mobile in Delhi, Chandigarh and Srinagar.