New Delhi: A clever police operation involving a ₹5,000 UPI transaction helped Delhi Police rescue a kidnapped 13-year-old boy and arrest the accused within just three hours. Digital surveillance, CCTV footage and the cooperation of a cybercafe owner played a crucial role in cracking the case.
According to police, the incident came to light on October 30 when the boy's mother approached Jyoti Nagar police station in Shahdara and reported that her son had gone out to purchase some items but had not returned home.
Soon afterwards, she received a phone call from an unidentified man demanding ₹40,000 as ransom for her son's release. Police registered a case and immediately formed a team to trace the child and arrest the kidnapper.
During the investigation, the accused contacted the mother again and insisted that the ransom be transferred through UPI. He shared a payment barcode, which gave investigators an opportunity to track him.
Police transferred ₹5,000 through the UPI account of a police personnel to trace the transaction. Technical surveillance led them to a cybercafe in Karawal Nagar.
Investigators discovered that a man accompanied by a minor boy had used the cybercafe owner's UPI barcode to receive ₹5,000. The owner had reportedly received ₹50 as commission for facilitating the transaction.
Police then examined the CCTV footage and showed it to the boy's mother, who identified her missing son.
To catch the accused, officers initiated another ₹5,000 transaction through the same barcode, luring him back to the cybercafe. The accused, identified as Akash, subsequently returned with the boy to collect the money in cash.
Police personnel, with the assistance of the cybercafe owner, immediately apprehended him and safely rescued the child.
During interrogation, Akash reportedly revealed that he worked as a delivery helper in Sadar Bazar and knew the boy through his cousin. He allegedly lured the child onto his scooter before demanding ransom.
Police recovered ₹5,000 in cash, the mobile phone used for the ransom call and the scooter involved in the kidnapping. The rescued boy was reunited with his family.
Investigators are now examining whether Akash planned the kidnapping alone or had assistance from others.
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