- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Mon, 29 Sep 2025 03:22 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
A young man from Kasganj, who had gone missing from his brother-in-law’s house in Noida, was found to have staged his own kidnapping to repay debts from online gaming. Police recovered him safely from Solan, Himachal Pradesh, and have since sent him to jail.
According to officials, Asharam, a resident of Nagla Karan village in Kasganj, had lost nearly Rs 5 lakh in online games and betting. Pressured by lenders, he fabricated a kidnapping plan and demanded Rs 20 lakh ransom from his family, hoping they would sell land to pay off his debts.
On September 21, Asharam’s brother Shivam received a WhatsApp message on his phone showing him tied up, with a ransom demand. Alarmed, the family transferred Rs 5,000 and approached the police. A case was registered on September 24 at the Noida Phase-2 police station.
Investigations revealed Asharam had travelled to Solan, Himachal Pradesh, where he once worked. Acting on clues from the photo, including distinctive floor tiles, police tracked him to a three-storey building in Baddi village. He was found living in a rented room with five ATM cards, an Aadhaar card, and a mobile phone.
Police said Asharam admitted to planning the plot with the help of an associate, who photographed him with his hands and feet tied. He had told the person that it was just to “scare his family and girlfriend.”
Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Awasthi confirmed that the youth was addicted to online gaming and had borrowed heavily from friends. He planned to repay debts and keep the remaining ransom money for himself.