Zee Media Bureau
Mumbai: The Mumbai Police on Wednesday came out with shocking details of the kidnapping and killing of 13-year-old Aditya Ranka, the son of a diamond merchant.
A 28-year-old man and his friend were arrested on Tuesday night on charges of kidnapping and murdering Aditya.
Addressing a press conference, Mumbai Police Additional Commissioner Krishna Prakash said: "The 13-year-old was attacked on his head. He was taken in a car, which the police have recovered.”
The two, having allegedly lost Rs 10 lakh over betting on Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, wanted to make a fast buck by demanding a ransom from Aditya Ranka’s father. Aditya’s cousin Himanshu, who lives opposite to his house, called him on their landline telephone on Monday afternoon and offered to take him out for a spin in a Honda City, borrowed by his friend Vijay Sanghvi from another person.
While Sanghvi took the boy, Himanshu stayed back to keep a tab on Aditya’s father Jitendra. When he received a call demanding a ransom of Rs 30 lakh, Jitendra, along with Himanshu, approached the VP Road police station. Sensing trouble, Himanshu informed Sanghvi about the police investigating the matter.
The two panicked and the 13-year-old boy`s wrist was slashed. Aditya was later set ablaze in an isolated area in Panvel.
"Since Friday, when Himanshu was in Rajasthan, the planning was on. They had Rs 10 lakh pending over the betting. They had decided that they would kidnap someone and seek ransom to pay for the betting loss. When the accused came to know that his uncle was expecting Rs 30 lakh, he decided to kidnap the 13-year-old," Prakash said.
"When he realised that the police was in action and the case is being taken up by crime branch, local police, they got nervous and then brought weapons and match box to kill Aditya," Prakash added.
Aditya`s father sensed Himanshu`s involvement in the case after he found Aditya`s slippers in his car, the police said. "The complainant was called in at the police station when we did not get any update on the boy. The complainant came in the same car that was used in the crime. One of the slippers of the boy was found in the car," Prakash said.
The police later arrested both the accused. "The accused later revealed the details of the crime based on which Himanshu and his friend were arrested. Himanshu took the child out of the house. The calls at home were made by Vijay, the friend, and later on carried the crime. The two MBA graduates gave shape to the crime," Prakash added.
