School Principal abducted, released; cops nab three
   Date :04-Sep-2022

School Principal  
 
 
Special Correspondent
PRADEEP Hariram Motiramani, Principal of Mahatma Gandhi Centennial Primary School, Jaripatka, who was abducted on Friday night for ransom, was released after police got hold of one of the suspects on Saturday afternoon. Within hours of his release, cops took three accused -- Nevill alias Sonu Hendry (34), a resident of Zingabai Takli, his former wife Reena Dominic Francis (39), a resident of Mangalwari Complex, Sadar, and Suraj Dhanraj Falke (24), a resident of Kalmeshwar -- into custody. Another accused Vicky is at large. The abductors were demanding Rs 30 lakh cash from Motiramani’s family for his safe release.
Motiramani’s wife Jyoti (46), a resident of Block No 312, Kisnani Chowk, Jaripatka, had lodged a complaint with the police that her husband left home on a Honda Activa (MH-49/N-8303) Friday night. As he did not return home till late at night, her daughter Maya contacted him on his mobile phone. The call was picked up by an unidentified person who told Maya that her father was kidnapped and demanded Rs 30 lakh cash for his safe release. The abductors then made a call asking her to keep the cash ready by Saturday afternoon, if she wanted to see her father alive. The news of Motiramani’s abduction spread like a jungle fire in Jaripatka area with several prominent persons from the locality enquiring about the incident. A few tried to contact Motiramani on his cellphone but it was switched off. A group of local residents along with Motiramani’s family approached Jaripatka Police Station. The victim’s daughter also told investigators that the abductors threatened her of dire consequences if she reported the matter to the police.
Soon after receiving the complaint, separate police teams from Jaripatka Police Station and Crime Branch were fanned out to trace Motiramani (47) and nab his abductors. One of the teams found Motiramani’s two-wheeler parked in front of Alexis Hospital in Mankapur. Another team picked up one of the accused on suspicion.
Fearing arrest, the other accused persons released him unconditionally. Soon after his release, Motiramani himself walked into Jaripatka Police Station and narrated the entire episode to the investigators.
Preliminary investigations revealed that accused Reena Francis was earlier working as a teacher at Mahatma Gandhi School and was allegedly close to Principal Motiramani. Reena, who was now working in a Hingna School, had allegedly divorced her husband. Nevill and Reena started living separately though they had a daughter.
Reena was often in touch with Motiramani. A few days ago, Nevill and Reena met and shared some emotional moments. Both had financial problems. As Reena knew that Motiramani was financially well-off, they hatched a plan to abduct him to extort money from his family. They then roped in Suraj and Vicky to abduct him. As per the plan, they allegedly called Motiramani near Alexis Hospital on Friday night. On Seeing Reena and one other in a Hyundai Verna car, Motiramani parked his two-wheeler in front of the hospital and accompanied them in their vehicle. They took Motiramani to Nevill’s house at Zingabai Takli and confined him to a room. The accused then snatched his cellphone and started doling out threats to his daughter to extort money.
Speaking to The Hitavada, a senior police officer said that a case of abduction for ransom and extortion with threats to kill under Sections 364(A) and 386 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the accused persons at Jaripatka Police Station. “Cellphones of the accused arrested and the car used by them were being seized, besides launching a manhunt for another accused in the case,” he added.