In an extraordinary development, Bengaluru police rescued two software professionals in just six hours following a kidnapping complaint and arrested 11 people in connection with the incident in the Whitefield police division. But the case was thrown up for good when a 21-year-old woman, who was among the suspects in the kidnapping case, accused one of the rescued software workers of raping an alleged victim.
Police filed a separate case and arrested both of the software employees in connection with the charges after her complaint. The kidnapping was first planned as revenge, and the accused then demanded money, investigators said. The two cases are now being investigated separately to determine the circumstances and to find out who is to blame.
The complaint filed by Raman, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, says his son B. Mahendra, 23, and Mahendra’s roommate Yeriboyina Tarun, 23, were kidnapped from Marathahalli area of Bengaluru. Both work in the software industry and live in the city. The incident occurred between 2.50 am and 6 am. In light of the information, Marathahalli police inspector Puneeth B.N. has formed a special team to trace the missing men and identify those responsible for the abduction.
The police team went to the CCTV footage to investigate and find the suspects, as well as track the victims. Officers searched for them at different locations. Within around 6 hours of the complaint being registered, police traced the suspects and Mahendra and Tarun were found safe with no serious physical injury. Eleven suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping. The swift action helped police recover the two men, and further investigations unearthed more allegations in the case.
Eleven People Arrested in Connection With the Kidnapping
The police identified the arrested individuals with names of Galeti Rajkumar alias Raj, 24; a 21-year-old woman; Marripati Manjunath alias Manju, 23; Chinigepalli Lokanath, 22; Bandlapalli Suhail, 22; Gangareddygari Narendra Reddy, 22; Shiva Subramanyam, 24; Saleem Pasha, 30; Nayeem Pasha, 31; Shabaz, 26; and Gali Rajesh, 20.
According to initial investigation, the kidnapping was planned as retaliation against Mahendra following a dispute. Police also believe the accused demanded money after abducting him and Tarun. Whitefield Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Saidulu Adavath said it was a revenge-driven kidnapping that later led to a demand for money.
Woman's Rape Complaint Takes Investigation in a New Direction
During the investigation, police found out that the 21-year-old woman arrested in connection with the kidnapping had accused Mahendra of rape. She said her alleged sexual assault took place between 1.30 am and 4 am on October 24. This led to a separate criminal case for one of the men who had first been rescued from the kidnapping.
Police officials told us that the woman did not approach the police at first with a rape complaint and the kidnapping was planned before the matter was reported. The woman's accusations have not been established in court, and the investigation needs to establish the facts on the basis of evidence and the statements of the parties involved.
After the woman's formal complaint, Marathahalli police filed a separate rape case against Mahendra. Tarun was also arrested in connection with the case, according to police. The exact nature of the allegations against each man and the evidence supporting them will be examined as the investigation progresses. The arrests don’t, by themselves, establish guilt, and the allegations must be tested through the legal process.
Police Investigating Both Cases
The incident has now become two connected but distinct criminal investigations: the alleged kidnapping of Mahendra and Tarun and the rape allegations by the woman against Mahendra. Police will have to establish the motive behind the alleged abduction, verify the reported demand for money and examine the evidence relating to the woman's complaint.
Investigators will have to consider CCTV footage, technical evidence, witness accounts and other relevant material in reconstructing the sequence of events. Establishing the timeline is especially important because the woman claimed that the sexual assault occurred several days before the kidnapping.
The case underlines how investigations can take more dramatic turns when new allegations come up during questioning. Bengaluru police are still investigating the facts, who is to be held responsible and how both cases follow law. More details are expected as investigators and the legal process proceed.
Comments