Chennai: In a shocking incident, three men were arrested by the city police for kidnapping a software engineer at K K Nagar on 30 August. The gang stripped the victim and took pictures to blackmail him for money.
According to the police, the victim identified as Sree kumar (34), a resident of Eighth Sector, Ayyappan Koil, K K Nagar worked as a software engineer for a company in MEPZ, Tambaram Sanatorium. On 30 August evening, he had booked a two-wheeler on Rapido (a bike app) to reach Forum Mall, Vadapalani.
However, instead of a two-wheeler, a four-wheeler came to pick him up with two passengers already in the vehicle. The driver told him that since it was raining they were sending cars for pick up and drops.
An unsuspecting Sree Kumar got into the vehicle. He grew suspicious only when the vehicle took a turn at Anna Main Road. When he asked an occupant in car, he brandished a knife and threatened him. They drove to SIDCO, Guindy and took Rs 11,000 from his wallet. They beat him up, stripped him and took pictures of him naked. The three kidnappers said they wanted Rs 50,000 from him tomorrow, if he relented the pictures would be posted on social media and circulated on WhatsApp.
On 31 August at 5.30 am, Sree Kumar lodged a complaint with the city police. With the help of CCTV footage, police traced the vehicle and arrested Tamilselvan (26), a construction worker, Mnaikandan (32), an auto driver, Saravanan (23), a food delivery executive. All three are residents of Virugambakkam. Police are yet to find out how the kidnappers knew Sree Kumar booked a ride on Rapido App.