12-year-old kidnapped boy rescued after 4-day ordeal

Thane: Three days after a 12year-old boy, son of a businessman from Dombivli, had been kidnapped on Wednesday, he was rescued on Saturday, and five people arrested.

The key accused, a “history-sheeter”, had demanded Rs 1.5 crore as ransom from the boy’s father, the police said, adding that it was “jealousy over prosperity” of the boy’s family that led to the kidnapping. The boy was rescued from a flat in Surat.

The main accused, F F Rafai (26), has offences like double murder and illegal liquor trade registered in his name in Gujarat, the police said. The other accused include his wife, paramour, his brother-in-law and his wife.

The police said that Rafai, who owns and drives a tourist cab, had rented two flats – one in Palghar and another in Surat to be used in the crime.