Mysuru, 8 Dec

A city-based realtor kidnapped for ransom in Vijayanagar was rescued within four hours on Monday after a swift operation by the local police. Five men known to the victim, Lokesh of Vijayanagar Fourth Stage, were arrested.

Police said the accused, HM Santosh, HS Abhishekh, R Prajwal, Darshan and Preetham, abducted Lokesh on the night of 6 December while he was returning home on his two-wheeler. The gang, who had been trailing him in a car, attacked him when he stopped to take a phone call, threw chilli powder in his eyes, bundled him into their vehicle and drove off.

Prajwal later called Lokesh’s wife, initially demanding Rs 1 crore for his release. She negotiated the amount down to Rs 30 lakh and simultaneously filed a complaint with Vijayanagar Police.

Inspector D Sureshkumar formed multiple teams, which tracked the suspects to Hampapura in KR Nagara taluk. Four accused, Santosh, Prajwal, Darshan and Abhishekh, were arrested on Sunday night, and Lokesh was rescued unharmed from the car. Preetham was caught separately in Vijayanagar when he arrived to collect the ransom.

All five have been remanded to judicial custody. Police have registered a case.