A college professor in Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, was reportedly abducted while taking an evening walk. The incident occurred on October 5, between 6 pm and 7 pm, in Jakela village. Kapurchand Gupta, who works at a degree college, stopped to rest near a milestone close to a roadside pond after feeling fatigued. Allegedly, two men approached him, forcibly blindfolded him, and threatened him with a knife, subsequently transporting him to a nearby village.

Details of the Abduction and Extortion

The professor was reportedly taken to Pandripani village, where he was confined in a room. During this time, the kidnappers allegedly assaulted him to extract sensitive information, specifically the password to his mobile phone. This led to a breach of his Google Pay and BHIM accounts, enabling the assailants to conduct transactions. Investigators believe the kidnappers contacted an unidentified woman, acquiring her QR code to facilitate money transfers from Gupta’s bank account. These transactions depleted his account limit of approximately Rs 1 lakh.

Following the abduction, the kidnappers compelled Gupta to call his family to assure them of his safety. However, his relatives sensed something was amiss and began tracking his whereabouts independently. Their efforts reportedly directed them to Pandripani village, whereupon the alleged kidnappers fled upon realising that Gupta’s family was approaching, leaving him behind. The family then notified the police regarding the incident.

Upon receiving this information, Pusaur Station House Officer Harshvardhan Singh, along with his team, initiated a swift response, successfully rescuing Gupta from confinement. The operation was ordered by the Senior Superintendent of Police for Raigarh, Shashi Mohan Singh, aiming to apprehend those involved in the act. Within 24 hours, one suspect named Sunil Sarathi, a resident of Jakela village, was reportedly arrested. He allegedly confessed to participating in the kidnapping and orchestrating the digital extortion.

Investigation into Digital Transactions

Authorities have commenced a thorough investigation concerning the digital financial transactions associated with the case. The woman whose QR code had been utilised to receive the money has been contacted by the police, and measures are being taken to secure the transferred amount. Furthermore, investigators are scrutinising her link to the accused and assessing if the bank account or UPI ID had been implicated in any prior criminal activities.

A case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the investigation continues into the matter. This incident has highlighted a troubling trend where conventional crimes, such as kidnapping, are increasingly intersecting with digital payment fraud. Criminals now exploit mobile banking and UPI platforms to facilitate straightforward digital extortion.

Law enforcement officials have established the identities of other individuals allegedly involved in the abduction and extortion, with efforts ongoing to apprehend these suspects. The evolving dynamics of crime using advanced technology raises concerns for both public safety and law enforcement capabilities.

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