Four in police net for W Delhi teen’s murder

Ribbu,a student of Class XI at KR Mangalam School in Vikaspuri,was abducted while on his way home on July 28. His body was recovered from a forest area in Vasant Kunj the next morning. The accused,the police said,have confessed to the crime.

According to the police,Rocky,a gambler,was in deep in debt. Rishab,too,was unemployed and the four got together to make a quick buck. “Ribbu had bought protein supplements from Rocky’s shop and they had got acquainted,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range),Ajai Kashyap. Two months ago,they met again at Rocky’s gym,the Tornado Gym in Vikaspuri. On the day of the crime,Rocky,in the Wagon R intercepted Ribbu. According to the police,he asked the boy to join him in the car. When Ribbu refused,they pulled him into the car and drove away.

Police called the operation “a success” amid reports that the boy’s life could have been saved had they acted on time. Sources said though the police knew about the payment of the ransom money,they did not succeed in arresting the men.

Police said the family had “secretly” paid part of the ransom. “They shared few details of this payment with us,” said Kashyap. “In most cases where the victim knows the kidnapper,safe return is a rare. Even if the police had gone with the boy’s father to deliver the cash,it would have proved futile as the kidnappers didn’t show up.”

The accused
* Kunal Bhandari alias Rocky (27): Body builder,crowned Mr Delhi in 1997 and 1998,studied till Class XI. Worked as a trainer in a gym and sold nutritional supplements. Had incurred huge debts due to his gambling habit
* Rishabh Chauhan alias Rishi (24): English Literature graduate from Kanpur University. Was unemployed
* Sukhvinder Singh alias Manni (22): Studied till Class VIII,worked with his father in his business of manufacturing reflectors
* Gaurav (20): Studied till Class VIII,ran a fast food joint in Chander Vihar