A city-based industrialist and his driver, kidnapped three days ago, were released unharmed today in return for payment of Rs 5 crore ransom, and five of the seven abductors, including a businessman's daughter were arrested.
26-year-old Munish Brara and his driver were kidnapped three days ago by some men dressed in police uniform on national highway number 1 near Kadon village on Saturday when they were returning home in their BMW car.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner P S Gill said here that a ransom amount to the tune of Rs 5 crore was paid to the abductors by the businessman's family, and the money was recovered from Hamirpur in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
Gill said the masterminds of the crime were Gur Arpan Chauhan and his friend Deepali Bassi, daughter of a Jalandhar-based industrialist.
Both are under police custody along with three other gang members Tony, Sonu Chourasia and Himmat Singh.
The bags carrying the ransom money were recovered in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh from a car abandoned by two gang members Amit and Sahil, who managed to escape while being chased by a Ludhiana police team, he said, adding that the money in the bags is being counted.
Amit and Sahil are still on the run.
Police also recovered one .32 bore pistol, one fake AK-47 rifle, 25 cartridges of .32 bore, 4 police uniforms, five mobile phone sets, nine SIM cards, one walky-talky, two cars, a motorbike and 130 gms of gold jewellery.
Describing the modus operandi, Gill said the kidnappers did multiple recce of Munish's factory and traced his travel routes.
During questioning, they told the police that it was their first crime.
