Ahmedabad Crime Branch rescues abducted man, 3 held in ₹4 lakh ransom case

The Crime Branch of Ahmedabad City on Friday arrested three men accused of kidnapping and extortion and safely rescued the victim, police said.

According to a Crime Branch official, the incident dates back to December 30, 2025, when Chhagannath Jognath, a resident of Pathawada village in Banaskantha district, was abducted around 1 pm from outside Rajwadi Chai Hotel near the Geeta Mandir ST Bus Stand. Three men allegedly forced him into an autorickshaw and took him away. Soon after, the accused demanded a ransom of ₹4 lakh, threatening to kill the victim if the money was not paid.

Based on a complaint, Kagdapith Police Station registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Acting on directions from senior officers, the Crime Branch launched an intensive investigation using CCTV footage, human intelligence and technical surveillance. Within hours, the team identified the accused as:

* Haresh Chaturbhai Thakor (21)

* Naresh Chaturbhai Thakor (27)

* Talaji Varsangji Thakor (45)

All three are residents of Rajveer Society, Thakkarnagar, Ahmedabad, and natives of Pirojpura village in Shankheshwar taluka of Patan district.

Police traced the accused to Pirojpura village in Shankheshwar, where the victim was being held. A Crime Branch team raided the location, arrested the three men and rescued Chhagannath Jognath unharmed, officials said.

Motive behind the kidnapping

During interrogation at the Crime Branch office in Ahmedabad, the accused reportedly revealed that the kidnapping stemmed from a personal grievance. Police said the father of two of the accused had earlier taken the victim’s help in seeking a 'cure' or remedy to improve the family’s financial condition and remove personal obstacles. When this failed to yield results, the accused allegedly developed resentment towards the victim.

“Keeping this grudge in mind, the three men abducted Chhagannath from Geeta Mandir and took him to their native village, where he was assaulted and his clothes were changed,” an officer said. The accused later demanded money from the victim’s family in exchange for his release.

The accused will be handed over to Kagdapith police for further investigation and legal proceedings in connection with case.

Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused were involved in similar offences.