Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) A toddler from a businessman’s family here abducted Sunday was rescued with the arrest of the child’s maid and three others who were desperate to get rich quick, police said Wednesday.

Eighteen-month-old Ishan went missing dramatically when maid Seema took him to a park in the posh Maharani Bagh area and never returned, sparking a massive hunt.

The child was rescued by Delhi Police at about 11 p.m. Tuesday from Faridabad, on the outskirts of Delhi, Police Commissioner B.K. Gupta told reporters.

The abduction for ransom was carefully planned by a five-member gang - three men and two women - with no criminal background who were fed up with their menial jobs and were hungry for big money, Gupta said.

According to police, the boy was treated well.

“We found baby diapers, baby oil, powder, milk powder and Marie Gold biscuits from the hideout in Faridabad,” Gupta said.

Also present at the presence conference was Ishan, his visibly happy father Vikram Singh, who has a showroom in Khan Market, and mother Gayatri Singh as well as the child’s grandparents.

Four of the accused - Krishan Dev Kumar, 32, Ashok Kiro, 23, maid Savita Kerketa alias Seema, 19, and Annu Ara Begum, 35 - have been arrested while a fifth, Pratima, is still at large.

Kumar hails from Bihar, Kerketa, Pratima and Kiro from Orissa and Annu Ara is from West Bengal, said police.

“All the accused were working in Maharani Bagh. They had enough of the menial jobs and wanted a big catch to lead comfortable lives,” Gupta said.

Pratima, who was also hired as a maid, became a suspect when she fled to her village just four days before the incident.

Police got hold of her fiance Kiro, who spilled the beans after sustained interrogation and led them to Kumar.

The abductors dressed the child like a girl to evade the police and people and had kept Ishan in Sarai Kale Khan in south Delhi till Monday. They moved to Faridabad later.

“They had planned to keep the child for a month or so and then ask for ransom. They planned to demand around Rs.2 crore,” Gupta said.

A reward of Rs.50,000 was announced for information leading to the kidnappers.

Mother Gayatri Singh accepted she had erred in not getting the police verify the antecedent of her maid before appointing her.

“It was my folly I did not get her verified. She had been in my house for 10 days,” said Gayatri.

“I hired her in good faith. I liked her nature and behaviour but she had one face for us and another for others,” she added.

Gayatri was all praise for the police.

“I did not have the time to feel depressed as they have kept me busy and involved in the investigation,” said Gayatri.