Film actor Mushtaq Khan, best known for his performances in Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke and Welcome, was kidnapped, tortured for hours and forced to pay Rs200,000 ($3,165) before he managed to escape.
Police have registered a case in connection with the incident, which took place on Nov 20 in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, reported NDTV.
According to a police report filed by his business partner Shivam Yadav, Khan received a call from one Rahul Saini at his Mumbai home on Nov 15.
The caller invited him to an event in Meerut where some people were to be felicitated. The actor often attends such events, so this was no cause for alarm.
Rahul also paid an advance fee of Rs25,000, saying he would pay the balance later. The caller also sent Khan an air ticket from Mumbai to Delhi.
On Nov 20, Khan landed in Delhi and got into a cab sent by Rahul. Besides the driver, another man was in the car. At one point, the car stopped and the actor was asked to get into another vehicle.
According to the police report, the same man drove the car and two others sat with Khan. The car stopped again and two more people got in.
By then, Khan smelled a rat and protested. The men then put a sheet over him and asked him to keep his head down.
About four hours later, they reached a house. There, the kidnappers tortured Khan and asked him to call his family and transfer money into an account.
They took Khan’s phone and managed to transfer about Rs200,000 into the account.
The kidnappers then started drinking. When they were passed out early the next morning, the actor managed to escape.
He rushed to a nearby mosque where a cleric helped him contact his family.
The police report said the actor was unwell, so he asked his business partner Mr Yadav to lodge the report.
“Mushtaq sir and his family were completely shaken over what happened to him... Yesterday, I went to Bijnor and filed an official report on his behalf,” said Mr Yadav on Dec 11.
“We have proof of the flight ticket, the bank accounts and even CCTV footage near the airport. He also recognises the neighbourhood and the house where he was kept. I think the police will surely get the culprits soon.”
Khan’s kidnapping nightmare comes on the heels of a similar incident where comedian Sunil Pal, who had travelled to Uttarakhand for an event, was abducted on the way back. He was later released in Meerut.
“Pal claimed he was abducted when he had gone to Uttarakhand for a show,” a Mumbai Police officer explained.
“When he stopped for snacks enroute, a man posing as a fan pushed him into a car. While they sought Rs20 lakh, Pal said he was released after he managed to pay Rs8 lakh which he collected from his friends.
“No arrest has been made and further investigation is underway.”
Meerut Police are now investigating if there is a connection between the two kidnappings.
Mr Yadav voiced concern about the two celebrities going through a similar ordeal.
“It is shocking that two public figures had to go through a similar ordeal. We hope there is awareness and protection in the future for everyone,” he said.
