Abduction bid by fake NIA agents foiled; City’s woman engineer rescued by cops
   Date :24-Mar-2024

Abduction bid by fake NIA agents foiled 
 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
 
 
 
A woman engineer was saved by police from the clutches of kidnappers who impersonated themselves as officers from the illustrious National Investigation Agency (NIA). The accused were inspired by a webseries to plan the conspiracy, police officials said. The police arrested the couple involved in the case, Swapnil Dilip Maraskolhe (24) and Chetna (23), both from Hingna. Palak (23), was their victim. According to the police, Palak works at a company in Hingna, while her father works in a coal mine in Parseoni. Swapnil and his girlfriend had been observing Palak’s movements for some time before the incident occurred. On the night of March 20, after finishing work, Palak contacted her mother to inform her that she was on her way home and expected to arrive by 10 pm. As she was riding her moped home, Swapnil and Chetna intercepted her and blocked her vehicle. They projected themselves as NIA officers conducting an investigation related to a case. They showed her a notice from the NIA and threatened her with a pistol and asked her to accompany them. They took her to their rented accommodation in Mahajanwadi area of Hingna. The accused tied her hands and confined her there.
 
When Palak did not return home till late night, her mobile phone was found to be switched off to the family members. The next day, Swapnil contacted Palak’s mother on mobile phone and demanded a ransom of Rs 30 lakh for her safe return. He also threatened to kill Palak if the money was not paid. Fearing for her daughter's safety, Palak’s mother quickly reported the kidnapping to the police. On Friday, Palak, somehow, managed to call her parents and informed them that she was being held hostage in a room. The police identified the location based on the mobile phone’s signal and rescued her.
 
Chetna was arrested by the police. Later, Swapnil also was nabbed. Investigations revealed that Swapnil and Chetna, originally from Tumsar Tehsil, had moved to Nagpur a few months prior and were living together. Swapnil, who worked at a private company, had accumulated a debt of Rs three lakh. In desperation to repay the debt, they resorted to abduct Palak. It was also discovered that they had previously attempted to abduct another woman without success. The accused communicated with each other in Bhojpuri language using Google Translate. Swapnil even switched off and switched on his mobile phone at various locations to divert police attention. The accused have been booked under Sections 364 (a), 392, 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3, 25 of the Arms Act.The police produced the accused in court on Saturday, and the court remanded them to police custody until March 27. The accused communicated with the victim in Bhojpuri language using Google Translate, according to officials. Under the guidance of Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Singal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Nimit Goyal, DCP Zone I Anurag Jain, the arrest was made by Crime Branchy PI (Unit No 1) Suhas Chaudhary, Sr PI Ranjit Sawat of Rana Pratap Nagar police station and team.