In a shocking turn of events, Mumbai-based comedian Sunil Pal was kidnapped in Meerut under the pretext of performing at a comedy show, only to be held hostage for 24 hours by five men. The abductors, claiming to be unemployed, demanded a ransom of Rs 20 lakh, eventually settling for Rs 7.5 lakh, which they used to buy gold jewelry. After releasing Pal, they gave him Rs 20,000 to cover his return flight to Mumbai.
The incident unfolded when Sunil Pal, who had been invited to Haridwar for a show, was picked up at Delhi airport and driven to Meerut. Upon arrival, the kidnappers blindfolded him, threatened him with a poison-filled syringe, and demanded the ransom. Despite the harrowing situation, Pal managed to negotiate a lower amount and transferred Rs 7.5 lakh to two different accounts provided by the captors.
Following his release, Pal immediately filed an FIR at the Santa Cruz police station in Mumbai, recounting the terrifying ordeal. Meanwhile, two jewelers in Meerut, Akash Ganga and Akshat Jewellers, reported suspicious transactions to the police. The suspects used Pal’s name to purchase gold coins and jewelry, paying with ransom money. Akshat Singhal, the owner of Akshat Jewellers, confirmed that the transactions were initially believed to be legitimate until the Mumbai police contacted him, leading to the discovery of the connection to the kidnapping.
Meerut police, in collaboration with Mumbai authorities, have launched an investigation into the matter, with the jewelers providing CCTV footage of the individuals involved. The case continues to unfold as police work to track down the kidnappers and recover the stolen ransom money.