A software engineer working for a reputed firm in Bengaluru was abducted on Monday night and rescued by the police on Tuesday morning. Vijaylakshmi was abducted by her driver of two years along with four others, all of whom have been arrested.
According to the police, Tilaknagar range, Vijaylakshmi was travelling by car at around 6 pm on Monday when the incident occurred. The police say that the driver hit a barricade on purpose. The driver then stepped out of the car on the premise of getting some help. In the meantime, four persons entered the car, gagged her and took her away to an undisclosed location.
Later that evening, Vijaylakshmi, unaware of the driver's role, called her parents and said that her abductors were demanding Rs 1.5 crore as ransom. She said that she would send the driver home to collect her cheque book.
The driver Laxmipathy went to her parents house and explained the incident. He also said that too had been abducted and that the kidnappers would release Vijaylakshmi once the ransom was paid.
The parents, who had already filed a missing person complaint with the police, grew suspicious since the driver did not look as though he had undergone any sort of trauma. They informed the cops immediately. The driver was picked up and the ransom call was traced to HSR Layout. A police team rushed to the spot and rescued the lady.
The driver, who now is in police custody, has admitted to a similar operation two years back with Vijaylakshmi's father. However the driver and his men decided to dump him on the road as he was not carrying any money. They also had feared that they may get caught if they demanded a ransom. Although the needle of suspicion had pointed towards him at that time, Vijaylakshmi stood by him and told the cops that he could not have undertaken such an operation.