On Monday morning, the trader left his Bibvewadi residence after dropping his daughter at school, telling his wife he was headed to the Camp area for work. Hours later, his wife received a chilling call from an unknown person claiming her husband had been kidnapped and demanding a Rs 2 crore ransom. The caller threatened dire consequences if the ransom was not paid, prompting the family to immediately alert the Bibvewadi police.
Responding swiftly, police teams led by Commissioner Amitesh Kumar began a citywide search. The trader’s abandoned two-wheeler was found near Navale Bridge, deepening the mystery and raising suspicions of foul play. The police extended their search to Mumbai and Bengaluru, but tracking the trader proved challenging as his phone remained switched off for most of the period.
After three days of frantic searching and mounting anxiety for his family, the trader unexpectedly appeared at the Bibvewadi police station on Friday evening. During questioning, he confessed to staging his own abduction to escape harassment from multiple creditors, to whom he owed over Rs 1 crore in total.
He explained that after abandoning his vehicle, he traveled to Ravet, then to Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai, and stayed in various Mumbai lodges-including Mumbai Central and Khar-for several days to avoid detection. He briefly contacted his sister during this period but otherwise kept his phone switched off to evade both family and police tracking.
The trader admitted to borrowing money from at least 10–12 individuals and was under severe pressure to repay both principal and interest. Facing relentless demands and fearing for his safety, he devised the kidnapping plot as a last resort to escape his financial obligations.
Police officials have emphasized the seriousness of filing false kidnapping reports and misleading law enforcement. While the trader cited financial distress and harassment as his motive, authorities are considering legal action for wasting police resources and causing public panic. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of extreme measures taken under financial duress.
The incident has left Pune’s business community shocked, with many expressing concern over the growing pressures faced by small traders and entrepreneurs. Experts highlight the importance of seeking legal and financial counseling rather than resorting to illegal or deceptive actions.