College students kidnap classmate for ransom, arrested within hours

 

By Barnabas Karunagari | April 14, 2026

Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA: In a shocking case of crime among college students, four youths were arrested for allegedly kidnapping their own classmate to extort money and fund a lavish lifestyle, police said on Sunday.

The accused — identified as Aditya R. Bhosale, Shaurya Agarwal, Syed Mohammed Bilal, and Nikunj Sultania, aged between 19 and 23 — are students of Jain Deemed-to-be University. They reportedly hail from Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Bengaluru.

According to police, the victim, 19-year-old Rishabh Mohanty, a native of Odisha and a first-year student, was lured out of his hostel in the BTM Layout area on Saturday evening. The accused then allegedly forced him into a car and took him to a house in Jayanagar, where he was confined.

Police said the accused threatened Mohanty with a knife and a fake metal pistol and demanded a ransom of ₹50,000 from his friends. The victim was also allegedly warned of dire consequences if the money was not paid.

Mohanty’s friends initially transferred ₹10,000 via UPI but grew suspicious and alerted the police by dialling the 112 emergency helpline.

Acting swiftly, the Madiwala police used mobile location tracking and digital surveillance to trace the accused. The victim was rescued within a few hours, and all four accused were apprehended in a late-night operation.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Mohammad Sujeetha M.S. said the case was initially reported as a kidnapping by unknown persons but later clues suggested the involvement of known associates.

“Our investigation revealed that one of the accused lured the victim to a location where he was held captive. The distress call was received between 8:30 pm and 8:45 pm, and the victim was rescued around 12:30 am to 1:00 am,” she said.

Police have seized a fake gun, a knife, and the car used in the crime. An FIR has been registered, and further investigation is underway.

Preliminary findings suggest the accused may have acted out of financial motives and a desire for quick money. Police are also probing whether the group was involved in similar extortion activities in the past, with one of the accused reportedly linked to an earlier case.