Bengaluru man left home for a day. Then his father got Rs 90 lakh ransom call

Manohar Patel, a Bengaluru resident, was alarmed when his 40-year-old son Manish disappeared on September 29, claiming he was headed to Gadag, a city nearly 390 km away. Manohar, 62, expected Manish to return the following morning as he had promised. However, Manish did not show up, raising concerns about his safety.

For the next two days, Manohar received WhatsApp calls demanding a ransom of Rs 90 lakh for his son's release. The callers threatened dire consequences unless the ransom was paid and also sent photos of Manish tied to a chair.

The Bengaluru police began investigating the calls and traced Manish's mobile phone, followed by another number used by the alleged abductors. Their investigation led them to a remote village near Belur in Hassan district, about 180 km from Bengaluru.

Upon arrival, the police found Manish staying in a house with two other men. After rescuing Manish, the police detained the other two suspects. The police are currently interrogating the accused to determine if Manish was involved in the staged abduction or if he was coerced into the situation by someone else. They are also examining the financial background of the ransom demand and the roles of the other two men in the incident.