PUNE, DEC 26: Industrialist Niranjan Lisaria, who was reported to have been abducted by unidentified persons and kept captive since December 15, returned home safe and unharmed early on Monday.However, a lot about the abduction still remains unanswered since the police still have no clue to the identity of the abductors and the circumstances in which he was released.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Monday evening, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mohammed Mulani said that they had still not been able to speak to Niranjan.
``We were informed about Niranjan's return by his family after he reached home. I myself had gone to Lisaria's residence along with some colleagues from the crime branch on Monday morning. However, the family did not allow us to meet the young industrialist saying he was yet to overcome the shock and needed some rest. We cannot comment on his return. Answers to the question which were nagging us ever since the abduction took place will come only after we speak to Niranjan,'' ACP Mulani said.
Brother Deepak confirmed that Niranjan had returned home ``safe and unharmed'' around 12.15 am. ``I myself do not know much about his release. I did not press for answers since Niranjan looked miserable when I saw him last night. Though there were no signs of any injury, he looked shell-shocked and scared. He hardly gave any details when we asked him about the entire episode,'' Deepak said.
According to Deepak, the abductors freed Niranjan near Pune Railway station. ``After being set free, Niranjan hired an autorickshaw to return home. However, he halted at Akurdi and phoned us. Later, I went to Akurdi and picked him up,'' Deepak said.
Deepak said Niranjan told him that he was whisked away from a secluded spot near their factory at Talawade village. ``Niranjan told us that the abductors intercepted his car and dragged him out without giving any chance to register protest or to retaliate. They forced him to board their car and blindfolded him before moving away. He was restrained at an ill-lit enclosed room. They (the abductors) were quite harsh with him. They manhandled him on a few occasions and did not give him proper meals. He was given only a few biscuits and some fruits during captivity.''
Asked whether Niranjan had provided any information about the abductors, Deepak said, ``He never had any chance to see their faces. They had covered their faces when his car was intercepted and thereafter he was always kept in the ill-lit room where he found it impossible to see the faces of the abductors. All he said was that four persons were involved in whisking him away from Talawade.''
Deepak claimed that the family had lost contact with the kidnappers for the last few days. ``Their last call had come some four days ago. They had reiterated the demand for ransom during the call but had not set any deadline.''
Asked what prompted the abductors to set free Lisaria, Deepak said most probably it was the mounting pressure from the police. ``Many police officials were visiting our house everyday. Besides, the police had spread a vast dragnet to nab the culprits. This might have scared them,'' he felt.
Niranjan Lisaria, who owns Deepak Industries along with his brother Deepak, was reported to be kidnapped on the morning of December 15. Deepak had lodged an FIR at Nigdi police station on December 16, stating he had received telephone calls from people who claimed to be Niranjan's abductors and demanded a ransom of Rs one crore for his release.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
