Karnataka Paediatrician Abducted for Rs 6 Crore Ransom, released with just Rs 300

Ballari: A 45-year-old paediatrician was allegedly abducted by a gang demanding a ransom of Rs. 6 crores on Saturday morning in Karnataka’s Ballari district. After several tense hours, the kidnappers released him, leaving him with only Rs. 300 to find his way home. The incident has raised concerns about the possibility of a business rivalry being behind the abduction.

As per the recent media report by the Hindustan Times, Dr Sunil, who was on a morning walk in Suryanarayanapet, was seized by the gang around 6 am. The attackers, travelling in a Tata Indigo, dragged him into the car and sped away, as captured by nearby CCTV cameras.

Following the abduction, the abductors quickly contacted Dr. Sunil’s brother, Venugopal Gupta, through a WhatsApp call and demanded an astronomical ransom of Rs. 6 crore for Dr. Sunil’s release. The kidnappers specified that half of the amount should be provided in gold. Gupta, who serves as the president of the local liquor dealers’ association, immediately alerted the authorities.

In response, the police acted quickly, blocking key exit points in the district to prevent the gang from escaping. Despite their extensive search efforts, the kidnappers released Dr Sunil around 8 pm, leaving him in a remote area with just Rs. 300, enough for him to take a bus back home.

According to police, Dr Sunil, though physically unharmed, was deeply shaken by the traumatic ordeal. The police are investigating whether the kidnapping was linked to a business rivalry. Investigators have since been working to gather further details from the doctor in the hope of gaining more insights into the kidnappers' identities and motives.

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Speaking about this case police sources told Deccan Herald, “We have stepped up checking at prominent places in the city, and senior police officers in the district have been pressed into the investigation.”