Bengaluru: While investigating the kidnapping of Sharath, the police were initially skeptical about the claims that he was kidnapped, as he did not look much worried in the video.
Police sources said that as none of his friends had any clue about his whereabouts, the role of some chain snatchers in the area was suspected.
“We started the probe in all angles, but none yielded results. Sharath had made his last phone call to the main accused Vishal, who was his classmate once, and then had turned a tout at Ullal RTO office. He was first summoned for questioning but he admitted that he had met Sharath at Shirke Apartments as he had called him and come there to show his new bike. We did not suspect him then and he was let off,” an official said.
Karun
“As part of the investigation, tower dump of phone numbers was analysed and it was found that one new number was active in the area on the day Sharath was kidnapped. We zeroed in on the number and it was found that it matched with the location of Vishal’s mobile phone. Based on suspicion, he was called for questioning again. This time he came with his parents. When he was questioned about the mobile number, he said his mother was using that number. His mother was asked separately about the phone number and she said she was not using that number. Based on this, Vishal was grilled thoroughly and he spilled the beans,” the official said.
Vinod
“He revealed that his associates were in dire need of money and had told him to identify some boy from rich family, so that they could kidnap him for gain. Vishal chose his close friend Sharath as the target, as he knew everything about the latter’s family as he used to visit them very frequently and was close to them. He also knew he parents were well off,” the official said.
Vishal
He discussed the same with his associates and they chalked out a plan.“ Vishal had told Sharath that his brother has a high end Benelli bike, worth Rs 6 lakh, and he wanted to show it to him. When Sharath went to show his new bike to Vishal on September 12 evening, the latter told the former that his brother was at Big Banyan Tree and they can see the bike if they go there. Trusting him, Sharath took Vishal on his bike,” the official added.
“When they reached Big Banyan tree, the four others were waiting in a Swift car. The car belonged to a person for whom accused Vinayprasad worked as a driver. The latter had told the owner that his parents were not keeping well and he needed the car to take them to hospital. When Sharath asked about the bike, Vishal said this brother had gone somewhere and will be coming soon. The accused told Sharath that they can have beer till the brother returned. Around 9 pm, they tied his hands inside the car and told him they were kidnapping him. They forced him to make a video and send it to his parents. After that Vishal left him with the four other accused and returned home,” the police said.
After they received the video, Sharath’s parents began informing their relatives about the incident. They told Vishal as he was close to them. He immediately went to their house pretending that he was concerned. “There he came to know that Sharath’s parents were going to file a police complaint. Immediately, he called his associates and told them that they would be caught if police start investigation and told them to finish Sharath,” the police added. Despite knowing Sharath was dead, Vishal reportedly visited the former’s house enquiring whether there was any update, but Sharath’s parents did not have a clue that he was behind the episode, the police said.
