Trio Arrested for Kidnapping and Extortion of Gas Delivery Worker

Three individuals were arrested on October 31 in Mumbai after allegedly kidnapping a gas cylinder delivery worker and demanding a ransom of ₹2 lakh from his family. The victim, identified as Hadmanaram Bishnoi, works for the Anjali gas service agency and has faced threats from his assailants on multiple occasions.

The incident unfolded when Bishnoi was approached by the trio, comprising Rehan Shaikh, 18, Rupesh Yadav, 20, and Aamir Mirza, 23, all residents of Powai. The group had previously extorted money from him on August 26, when they first threatened to accuse him of stealing gas cylinders. That encounter ended with Bishnoi transferring ₹83,000 from his bank account, along with handing over ₹12,000 in cash, before they released him after receiving an additional ₹50,000 from a friend.

On the day of the latest kidnapping, Bishnoi was near Holy Family School when the same individuals confronted him again. They accused him of theft, attracting the attention of onlookers. According to police reports, the assailants subsequently forced him to an isolated area in Aarey Colony and confiscated the ₹1,300 he had in his possession. They demanded the ransom and instructed him to contact his brother, Sagar Bishnoi, along with other acquaintances to gather the money.

Sagar Bishnoi acted swiftly by notifying the MIDC Police. Officers quickly located the suspects, who attempted to flee when they realized the police were closing in. The police apprehended the trio and have charged them under sections 137 (kidnapping), 308 (extortion), and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The swift response by law enforcement highlights the importance of community vigilance in preventing crime. Authorities are currently investigating the full extent of the suspects’ activities, as they seek to determine whether this incident is part of a larger pattern of extortion in the area.