Thaindian News

London, Oct 3 (IANS) An Indian-origin man and his two “hired heavies” have been jailed for a total of 21 years for kidnapping an Indian student and holding him for ransom.
Dipesh Chauhan, a 28-year-old glass factory manager, hired Shujak Khaliq and Arif Aga, both 26, to kidnap Savn Trivedi, who was then held hostage in a house in a London suburb while the gang demanded Rs.20 million from his stepfather.

The court heard that the three men lured their victim to a remote playing field before violently bundling him into a car boot.

The student was bound, gagged and blindfolded as well as beaten repeatedly, leaving him bruised and psychologically scarred, Southwark Crown Court heard Friday.

Trivedi’s stepfather alerted police after Chauhan, described by the judge as the “architect” of the plot, telephoned him and sent text messages demanding money.

Trivedi was found in a “miserable” state, after the kidnappers threatened to chop him up with swords if he did not hand over his stepfather’s contact details and his own bank details, the local Harrow Times newspaper reported.

Chauhan was sentenced to nine years in prison his two accomplices, described by as “hired heavies”, were given six years each.