Haryana Police Officer Arranges Driver's Kidnapping to Pay Off Gambling Debts

A head constable from Karnal, Haryana, orchestrated the kidnapping of a roadways driver-turned-travel agent to pay off his mounting online gambling debts. The police officer, along with two accomplices, kidnapped Sandeep Narwal in broad daylight but was caught within nine hours following a dramatic police chase that ended in a car crash.

From Friendship to Criminal conspiracy

The main accused, Head Constable Narendra, had initially approached Sandeep Narwal to help send his brother abroad. Unable to arrange the money for migration, Narendra stayed in touch with Narwal and observed his growing prosperity. After losing heavily in online gambling and accumulating substantial debts, Narendra hatched a plan to kidnap Narwal, believing him to be an easy target who could afford to pay a large ransom. 

Meticulous Planning and Execution

The kidnappers spent 15-20 days planning the abduction, conducting thorough surveillance of Narwal's daily routine. They discovered that Narwal regularly dropped his daughter at the bus stand alone. On January 4, the trio executed their plan, removing their car's number plates and intercepting Narwal when he was returning from dropping his daughter. They forced him into their vehicle at gunpoint.

Dramatic Rescue Operation

The kidnappers initially demanded 2 crore rupees from Narwal's father, gradually reducing their demand to 80 lakh rupees. However, their plans were foiled when alert police officers recognized their vehicle near Salwan police post. During the ensuing chase, one of the kidnappers, Surendra, fired at the police vehicle. The pursuit ended when the kidnappers' car overturned near Bichpari village, leading to their arrest. 

The police recovered an illegal pistol, a country-made weapon, and the SIM card used for making ransom calls. Investigation revealed that Surendra had six to seven previous criminal cases, including attempted murder, while the third accomplice, Akshay, had a case of assault registered against him in Sonipat.

The three-day police remand of the accused revealed the detailed planning behind the kidnapping, which was solely motivated by the desire for quick money. The accused have been sent to judicial custody after the completion of the investigation.