Jamshedpur: Nearly 89 hours after the abduction of prominent Bistupur-based entrepreneur Kairav Gandhi, police are yet to trace the victim or identify the kidnappers. The high-profile case has shaken the city, leaving the family in deep distress, while investigators continue to probe the incident from every possible angle.
Significantly, the focus of the investigation has now turned inward. Police are questioning Kairav’s close friends, acquaintances, and even relatives with whom he reportedly shared strained relations. Investigators are also examining whether Kairav had any disputes or enmity dating back to his college days that could be linked to the crime.
Kairav Gandhi returned to Jamshedpur last March after completing his MBA from Pune and has been working as a director in his father’s company. Police are verifying whether he had any recent conflicts while travelling outside the city in the days leading up to the abduction.
So far, police teams have scanned footage from more than 500 CCTV cameras across Jamshedpur and other districts and states. During the investigation, footage of a white Scorpio bearing a “Police” sticker was found at the Pata Toll Plaza in Chandil, raising suspicion that the vehicle may have been used in the kidnapping. Investigators noted that the “Police” sticker was removed midway. The same Scorpio later appeared in footage from the Purulia toll plaza, where only the driver was seen, leading police to suspect that Kairav may have been shifted to another vehicle between Chandil and Purulia.
Police are also probing the possible involvement of kidnapping gangs operating in Bihar and West Bengal. Adding to the mystery, the Scorpio allegedly used in the crime was fitted with a number plate registered to a Bolero vehicle from Koderma. Investigators are also reviewing records of kidnappers involved in similar crimes over the past 10 years and monitoring known criminals currently lodged in jails.
Considering the seriousness of the case, Kolhan DIG Anurjan Kispotta has constituted a joint Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers from Jamshedpur and Seraikela police. Seven separate teams have been formed—some dispatched to Bihar and West Bengal, others tasked with CCTV analysis, while one team is exclusively gathering intelligence on Kairav’s close associates.
Meanwhile, Kairav’s family remains inconsolable. His mother is reportedly in severe emotional distress, and the household is engulfed in silence as relatives anxiously await any positive development.
Kairav was abducted on Tuesday from the CH Area of Bistupur. Following the abduction, the kidnappers made 14 WhatsApp calls to his father, Devang Gandhi, and three calls to his uncle, Prashant Gandhi, from a Thailand-based number, indicating the possible involvement of professional criminals.
Car Key Found Under Driver’s Seat Raises Questions
Several puzzling details have further complicated the case. After the kidnapping, Kairav’s car was found parked along the National Highway near Kanderbeda, while his mobile phone was last traced to the Sonari area. The car key was recovered from under the driver’s seat, and the vehicle door was left open, raising questions about why the kidnappers abandoned the car in such a manner despite several isolated locations along the route.
These unusual circumstances have sparked speculation that the act may have been deliberately staged to mislead police and family members. Investigators are closely examining these clues as the search for Kairav Gandhi continues.
