One more arrested in Kaithal youths’ kidnapping case
There was also a ransom demand
A team of the Special Detective Unit of the Kaithal police has arrested the second accused in connection with a case involving the kidnapping of two youths abroad and a ransom demand. The accused has been identified as Jitesh, a resident of Gopal Nagar in Jalandhar, Punjab, who was arrested by a team led by ASI Tarsem Kumar.
Giving details of the case, Superintendent of Police (SP) Upasana said one accused Harish, alias Happy, alias Gopal, from Jalandhar, Punjab, had already been arrested earlier in the case. The new arrested accused, Jitesh, was previously lodged in Tihar Jail in Delhi in connection with another case. For his arrest in this case, the police obtained a production warrant from the court. “During the investigation, it was revealed that Jitesh and Harish were working for the accused persons based in Tehran. The ransom amount of Rs 35 lakh paid by the victims’ families was received by Harish in Jalandhar and later transferred by Jitesh to the accused persons in Tehran. The police have obtained five days’ police remand of Jitesh for further investigation to determine more details about the international kidnapping racket,” said the SP.
She further said on September 7, 2025, two youths — Somil Singh from Sisla village and Naveen Mor from Chhatar village in Jind district had left from Jaipur Airport for Australia. They travelled via Sharjah and landed at Tehran Airport, from where they were taken to Konart Airport in Iran.
The SP said Tehran and Konart fall in an Islamic region where criminal elements, including some Pakistani nationals, were reportedly involved in illegal activities. The youths were picked up from Konart Airport by the accused persons involved in the crime.
The accused had initially told the victims and their families that the youths would have to stay in Konart for two days and that arrangements for their travel to Australia would be made afterwards. To gain the victims’ trust, the accused sent fake Australian visas to the victims and their families and even arranged their air tickets themselves.
The deal for sending the youths to Australia was allegedly fixed at Rs 22 lakh per person, with the families being told that the payment could be made after the youths reached Australia.
However, on September 11, the victims’ families received WhatsApp calls from the victims’ mobile phones, informing them that Somil and Naveen had been kidnapped. The callers demanded Rs 80 lakh as ransom, threatening that the youths would either be killed or sold in Afghanistan if the amount was not paid, the SP said.
The families continued receiving ransom calls from Pakistani and other international numbers. Videos showing the victims being tortured were also sent to their families to pressure them into paying the ransom. Under pressure, the families initially paid Rs10 lakh as directed by the accused.
Following a complaint by the victims’ families, a case was registered at Titaram police station, and the investigation was handed over to the Special Detective Unit, Kaithal.
SP Upasana said the police contacted the Indian Embassy in Tehran through the Central Government officials and initiated correspondence to ensure the safe rescue of the victims. Meanwhile, the police team collected crucial data about the accused with the help of the cyber cell.
Fearing for the safety of the victims, the families later paid another Rs 35 lakh as ransom. The police, however, continued their investigation with caution and patience. The Kaithal police managed to rescue the two youths on September 22, 2025, with the assistance of the Indian Embassy in Tehran.
After completing documentation formalities in Iran, the victims were sent back to India and were received by police officials at Delhi Airport on the morning of September 25. “The victims were severely tortured by the accused during captivity,” said the SP.
