Meerut (UP), March 11 A man here is alleged to have staged the kidnapping of his minor son and demanded a ransom of Rs 6 lakh in an attempt to clear debts incurred through online gaming, police said on Wednesday.
The accused has been arrested and the boy has been safely recovered, they said.
According to police, Deepak, a resident of Ashok Nagar area under the Kankerkhera police station limits, filed a complaint on March 10, claiming that his 15-year-old son, Harsh Kumar alias Honey, had gone missing on March 9 after leaving home for coaching classes.
He alleged that unknown individuals had called and demanded Rs 6 lakh as ransom for the boy's release.
Teams from the Kankerkhera police station launched an investigation into the complaint, examining CCTV footage from the area and questioning family members. Officials said Deepak's statements appeared suspicious during questioning.
Under sustained interrogation, Deepak is alleged to have confessed to hatching the kidnapping plot himself.
Police said he had spent money borrowed through credit cards of various banks on an online gaming application called "Chill Chat". He later took loans worth around Rs 2 lakh through online loan applications, and spent the amount on gaming as well, leaving him in debt of around Rs 7-8 lakh.
Troubled by mounting debt and repayment pressure, he allegedly persuaded his son to go into hiding and fabricated the story of a kidnapping to demand ransom, police said.
The accused has been arrested and the minor has been safely recovered, while further legal action is underway, they added.