Brother-in-law kidnaps Ajmer railway officer, demands ₹51 lakh ransom
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Ravi Kumar Meena, Chief Office Superintendent at the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) in Ajmer, was allegedly abducted on 21 August by a group of men acting on the instructions of his own brother-in-law, Mahendra, police have alleged. The kidnappers demanded ₹51 lakh in ransom, and the case — which began as a routine missing-person report — has since unravelled into a multi-district investigation involving footage from more than 130 CCTV cameras and coordinated police teams from Ajmer, Dausa, and Alwar.
How the Abduction Unfolded
According to Meena's statement to police, he was leaving the RRB office at around 5:15 pm on 21 August and was riding towards the chairman's bungalow to collect an office laptop. A car allegedly rammed his motorcycle, knocking him off. Three or four men then allegedly forced him into the vehicle. Meena told investigators he recognised two of them — Deva and Anil — as individuals already known to him.
The men allegedly informed Meena that Mahendra, his wife's brother, had orchestrated the abduction. Mahendra reportedly joined the group in Jaipur before they transported Meena to Nangal Pyariwas, where he was allegedly assaulted and ordered to arrange ₹51 lakh. He was reportedly denied any contact with the outside world for approximately 24 hours.
Assault, a Forest, and a Forged Affidavit
The accused allegedly moved Meena to a forested area in Tehla, where he was assaulted again. He was subsequently forced to call his mother and instruct her to arrange the ransom money. The group later transported him to the Aandhi area, where, using his Aadhaar card, they allegedly procured stamp paper and compelled him to sign an affidavit declaring that he owed the accused ₹51 lakh and had not been kidnapped. Police allege the document was designed to fabricate a paper trail and neutralise any future criminal complaint.
The Police Investigation
Meena's mother, Samanti Meena, filed a kidnapping complaint with Civil Lines police after her son failed to return home. A special team began reconstructing his movements and reviewed footage from more than 130 CCTV cameras across Ajmer. Investigators tracked a suspicious Fortuner travelling towards Jaipur. Call detail records analysed by the cyber cell helped narrow down the suspects' locations, prompting coordinated raids across multiple districts.
Rescue and Arrests
As the accused were allegedly transporting Meena towards Bandikui, they reportedly spotted an Ajmer police vehicle. Fearing detection, they allegedly pushed Meena out of the car and fled. Police had by then already pinpointed his location. Meena was safely rescued, and the accused were subsequently apprehended with the assistance of local police teams.
What Investigators Are Probing
Police are now questioning the arrested suspects to establish the full scope of the conspiracy and determine whether additional individuals were involved. The alleged ransom demand, the physical assaults, the attempt to coerce a false affidavit, and the eventual abandonment of the victim are all central to the investigation. The case marks a troubling instance of a crime allegedly planned and executed by someone within the victim's own family circle.