A 19-year-old cloth merchant’s son from Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district was allegedly kidnapped after three men identified him as a wealthy target through his social media reels showcasing an expensive lifestyle, police said.
Anshul alias Kanha Dengre, a resident of Pawai, was kidnapped on June 27. The accused allegedly demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh from his family. Fearing for his safety, the family transferred Rs 1.48 lakh to the kidnappers’ bank account before approaching the police.
According to police, swift action led to the immediate freezing of the bank account, while the businessman’s son was rescued safely during the investigation.
Police later arrested the three accused, identified as Rajkamal Rajak, Rajkumar Pal and Shivendra Singh, following a coordinated operation. Officers recovered one pistol, two country-made firearms and two motorcycles allegedly used in the crime.
Following the arrests, police took the accused on a foot march through the town’s main streets. Officials said that the procession was intended to reassure residents and send a strong message against criminal activities. After being produced before a court, all three accused were remanded to judicial custody.
Pawai Station House Officer Sushil Kumar Ahirwar said the accused had targeted the teenager after watching his social media reels, assuming he came from a wealthy family. He said the kidnappers demanded Rs 10 lakh in ransom and had already received Rs 1.48 lakh before police intervened and froze the account. He added that the three accused were arrested with illegal weapons and motorcycles used in the crime.
– Ends
(With inputs from Dilip Sharma.)
Published By:
Sahil Sinha
Published On:
Jul 6, 2026 13:42 IST
