Jamshedpur: In a decisive success for the East Singhbhum Police, 24-year-old Kairav Gandhi, who was abducted earlier this month, has been rescued safely after sustained police pressure compelled the kidnappers to flee, abandoning the victim on a highway stretch in Jharkhand.
Jamshedpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Piyush Pandey addressed a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to provide the official account of the high-profile kidnapping and subsequent rescue of Kairav Gandhi, the son of local businessman Devang Gandhi.
Dismissing earlier speculations, the SSP clarified that Kairav was abducted from the Kadma-Sonari Link Road, one of the city’s busiest areas, on January 13. The kidnappers intercepted his vehicle and abandoned it at the scene. The culprits reportedly used a vehicle bearing a “Police” sticker to execute the crime, likely to avoid suspicion during the initial getaway.
Ransom Demands and Police Strategy
The SSP confirmed for the first time that the family had received calls for ransom. While the exact amount discussed between the family and the kidnappers remains confidential, the SSP stated that the police advised the family against paying the ransom.
“Our primary objective was the safe recovery of the victim. We maintained constant pressure on the kidnappers, which eventually made it impossible for them to negotiate or hide safely,” SSP Pandey said.
The Rescue Operations
Over the course of 14 days, seven special teams conducted raids across multiple states, including Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. The SSP revealed that the police had finally managed to zero in on the kidnappers’ precise location.
Sensing that they were surrounded and fearing a direct confrontation or “encounter” with the police, the criminals abandoned Kairav on the stretch between Chauparan and Barhi and fled into the darkness. A police team moving in from the opposite direction secured the youth shortly after.
Victim’s Condition
The SSP confirmed that Kairav Gandhi was not subjected to physical assault or exploitation during his 13 days in captivity. Following his rescue, he was immediately reunited with his family, as their priority was his return home after the long ordeal.
Search for Culprits Continues
While Kairav is safe, the SSP emphasized that the mission is not over. “We have significant leads on the gang involved. Our teams are currently in pursuit, and we expect to make arrests very soon,” he added.
