In a shocking series of events, two well-known personalities from the entertainment industry, comedian Sunil Pal and actor Mushtaq Khan, were lured into abduction by a gang operating in Uttar Pradesh. This gang, which has been active in targeting celebrities for ransom, used clever tactics to deceive their victims.

The Abduction Scheme

The troubles began for Mushtaq Khan on November 20 when he was invited to an event in Meerut. The gang sent him an advance payment of Rs 25,000 along with a ticket for the event. However, upon his arrival at the Delhi airport, things took a dark turn. A cab driver picked him up but instead of taking him to the event, he was driven to a popular ‘shikanji’ shop between Meerut and Delhi. There, he was forced into another vehicle by members of the gang.

Once in captivity, Mushtaq Khan was threatened and held for ransom. The kidnappers accessed his bank account details and withdrew Rs 2.2 lakh while he was still being held. Fortunately, Khan managed to escape the following day and sought help from locals, who assisted him in returning home safely.
Sunil Pal faced a similar fate just days later on December 2. He too was lured under the pretense of attending an event but ended up being kidnapped by the same gang. The police have linked both abductions to a notorious group led by Lavi Pal, who is currently on the run.

Gang’s Modus Operandi

The gang’s strategy involved inviting targets to events with fake promises and advance payments. They had even planned to abduct veteran actor Shakti Kapoor using a similar method but were unsuccessful due to complications in negotiations.

Authorities have arrested several members of the gang, including Sarthak Chaudhary and Azim, while others remain at large. The police have announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to the capture of Lavi Pal.

Community Impact And Police Response

This series of kidnappings has raised concerns about safety among public figures and has prompted increased police vigilance in Uttar Pradesh. The police are conducting raids and investigations to dismantle this gang completely.

Superintendent of Police Ayush Vikram Singh mentioned that they are looking into how Lavi Pal acquired funds to purchase an expensive vehicle despite having no known source of income. This raises questions about the broader network supporting such criminal activities.

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