2 min readBhopalMay 4, 2026 06:03 AM IST
Police in Bhopal claim to have foiled a kidnapping and extortion bid targeting a prominent Delhi-based UPSC coaching director, by arresting six people and recovering the ransom amount of Rs 1.89 crore.
Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said the educator’s former associate, Priyank, was the mastermind, who lured her to the city on the pretext of business expansion by holding a seminar here.
The Commissioner said the accused had prepared the ground in advance by renting a house a day before the meeting. “When the victims entered, they found several men with covered faces inside. They were threatened at gunpoint and forced to transfer Rs 1.89 crore to multiple bank accounts of the accused. A video was also recorded under duress to prevent any complaints,” Kumar said.
After receiving a complaint, the police promptly froze the said bank accounts of the accused before the ransom money could be withdrawn, he said, adding that the funds were being returned to the complainant.
The alleged mastermind was later traced to a city hospital, where, the police claimed, he attempted to evade arrest citing illness. He was later taken into custody and produced before the court. During questioning, he confessed to the crime, Kumar said.
Police said six people have been arrested so far, while two other suspects are being questioned. Search is on for another absconding accused. Further investigation is underway.

