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By Sumesh Rajan | January 2, 2026
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA: In a swift operation, the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch rescued a 15-year-old boy who was lured through a fake Instagram profile, kidnapped, and held for ransom. Four young men have been arrested in connection with the crime.
According to the police, the Class 10 student was befriended on Instagram by the accused, who posed as a teenage girl. Over time, they built an emotional bond with the boy, creating the impression of a romantic relationship and gaining his trust.
Using this fake identity, the accused invited the boy to meet in Nandivli village, Kalyan East, in Thane district. The accused themselves booked an app-based cab, which picked up the boy from Airoli and dropped him at the meeting point.
“When the boy reached the location, the accused told him that the girl was their sister and convinced him to accompany them to a nearby flat,” an investigating officer said. Once inside a room at Sai Aradhana Apartment in Rajaram Nagar, Nandivli, the boy was confined.
The accused then sent a WhatsApp voice message to the boy’s relatives, demanding a ransom of ₹20 lakh for his safe release.
The case came to light on December 28, when the boy’s uncle, Minanath Anant Madhvi (55), a sanitation worker and resident of Diva village, approached Rabale police station. The complaint was filed by relatives as the victim’s father was unwell at the time.
Taking the matter seriously, the police formed special teams to trace the minor. CCTV footage revealed that the boy had travelled in a white Wagon R car. Technical analysis helped the police track down the cab driver, who confirmed that the vehicle had been booked online from Airoli to Nandivli.
Further examination of CCTV footage from the drop-off point showed four youths escorting the boy into the residential building. Acting on this input, Crime Branch Unit-1 conducted a raid at the apartment, rescued the boy unharmed, and arrested all four accused within 24 hours of the complaint.
The arrested men have been identified as Pradipkumar Mayaram Jaiswal (24), a motor training school trainer; Vishal Rambahadur Pasi (19) and Satyam Shivchand Yadav (19), both garage workers; and Chandan Vinod Maurya (19), a food delivery agent. All are residents of Kalyan East and natives of Uttar Pradesh.
Police said Jaiswal is the main accused and had himself fallen victim to a similar online scam a few months ago. “He decided to replicate the modus operandi for quick money and roped in the other three. They created a fake Instagram profile using a girl’s name and targeted the boy,” the officer said.
The accused were produced before a judicial magistrate and remanded to police custody. They have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for kidnapping and extortion. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the gang was involved in similar crimes or operated other fake social media profiles.
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