A sudden commotion was caused when a city-based moneylender, Montu Barot (31), allegedly attempted to abduct one of his debtors from Metropolitan court premises in Gheekanta area on Thursday afternoon. The police personnel present on the court premises, however, foiled the abduction attempt and arrested Barot on the spot.

The incident took place around noon, when the victim Shailendra Shah (50), a resident of Thaltej, along with his counsel, had come to the court in connection to a legal matter.

Barot, a resident of Memnagar, who also happened to be there, said police, roughed up Shah and attempted to abduct him on his scooter.

The incident, police added, happened allegedly because of Shah’s inability to pay back a loan of Rs 2 lakh he had taken from Barot about two years ago.

As jittery Shah started shouting for help, the Karanj police personnel rushed to his help.

Barot was nabbed and later taken to Karanj police station. “We have arrested Barot on the charges of attempting to kidnap a person and under the provisions of The Bombay Moneylenders Act and the investigations are underway,” said police inspector, P D Manavar.