In a case resembling the plot of a Bollywood crime thriller, Mumbai Police have uncovered a shocking extortion and kidnapping racket in Santacruz East, where five armed men allegedly held three employees of a businessman hostage at gunpoint and forced them to facilitate the release of ₹55 lakh in Hyderabad.
Acting swiftly, the Mumbai Crime Branch's Unit 8, along with the Vakola Police, arrested three accused from Hyderabad. The arrested men have been identified as Ayan Khan, Azizuddin Khan, and Ganga Rajiv, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining two suspects.
According to police, the complainant, Khushpal Mohan Singh (24), a resident of Bhuleshwar, works for a private firm. On July 9, 2026, at around 12:30 pm, Khushpal and his colleagues, Vikram and Mahavir, were called to Room No. 901, Navratna Building, on CST Road in Kalina.
The accused allegedly told them that a payment of ₹55 lakh was to be made in Hyderabad and required confirmation from their Mumbai office before it could be released.
As soon as the three employees entered the office, the accused allegedly locked the door from inside and held them captive. One of the accused reportedly pointed a pistol at Khushpal's head and forced him to contact his employer.
Under threat, Khushpal was made to falsely inform his employer through phone calls and messages that the ₹55 lakh payment had been safely received in Mumbai, and that the amount being withheld in Hyderabad could now be handed over to the concerned person.
Fearing for their lives, the employees complied. Acting on the false confirmation, the businessman released ₹55 lakh in cash to associates of the accused in Hyderabad. Once the payment was confirmed, the five suspects allegedly threatened the hostages before fleeing the scene.
Following the incident, the Vakola Police registered an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act.
During the investigation, piecing together local CCTV footage and tracking specific profiles, particularly focusing on a suspect's heavy chain-smoking habit and a highly distinctive "Mom-Dad" tattoo on his right hand, investigators traced the syndicate's coordinates to Telangana. A team raided their hideout in Hyderabad, successfully apprehending three of the accused.
The police are currently interrogating the arrested trio to recover the extorted cash, while multiple police teams continue to conduct raids to capture the remaining two fugitives.
