Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, known for roles in films like Welcome and Stree 2, was allegedly kidnapped under the pretext of attending an event in Meerut. Khan managed to escape after being held captive for a day, police confirmed on Wednesday.
According to Khan’s complaint, the incident began on November 20 when he was picked up from Delhi airport by individuals posing as event organizers. Midway through the journey, he was transferred to another vehicle, threatened, and taken to a location in Bijnor. The kidnappers forced Khan to transfer ₹2 lakh via mobile before he escaped on November 21 and returned to Mumbai.
Two Arrested, Six Suspects Still At Large
The Bijnor police arrested two suspects, Lavi Pal Chaudhary and Arjun Karnpal, from their homes on Tuesday night. Six others involved in the scheme remain at large. Lavi Pal, previously jailed in 2016 for car theft, had contested local elections in 2017 but lost.
Bijnor superintendent of police Abhishek Kumar Jha stated that a case under Section 364A (kidnapping for ransom) of the Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita has been registered. Multiple teams are working to locate the kidnappers and the vehicle used in the abduction.
Actor-Comedian Sunil Pal Also Targeted
In a similar incident last week, actor-comedian Sunil Pal reported being abducted en route to a show in Uttarakhand. The kidnappers demanded ₹20 lakh in ransom and eventually released Pal after extorting ₹8 lakh.
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Pal detailed that the ordeal began when he was contacted by someone claiming to be Anil Kumar, who booked him for a performance in Haridwar. Upon arriving at New Delhi airport on December 1, he was abducted during the drive to Uttarakhand. The kidnappers confiscated his phone and forced him to arrange money from friends and transfer funds to their accounts.
Police Investigations And Evidence Collection
Meerut police are investigating the cases and have obtained CCTV footage from local jewellery stores where the ransom money was spent. Akshit Singhal, owner of one such store, confirmed that police collected the footage as evidence.
While Mushtaq Khan and Sunil Pal managed to escape, their experiences underscore the increasing risk of targeted crimes against public figures. Law enforcement continues its efforts to apprehend all involved in these abduction schemes.
