Indian playboy caught staging his own abduction
The son of a New Delhi businessman staged his own kidnapping to fund a luxury holiday with his demanding girlfriend.
By Dean Nelson in New Delhi
Published: 1:37PM GMT 29 Dec 2009
According to relatives, Verma had developed a taste for fast cars and high living ? he was a regular at some of the city's most exclusive hotel clubs.
According to relatives, Verma had developed a taste for fast cars and high living and was a regular at some of the city's most exclusive hotel clubs.
Pavan Verma, 22, plotted his own disappearance with a friend to force his father to hand over £25,000 after his girlfriend told him she wanted to spend New Year in style in the former Portuguese enclave of Macau in southern China.
According to detectives, Verma had developed a taste for fast cars and high living – he was a regular at some of the city's most exclusive hotel clubs.
But he could not afford his girlfriend's dream holiday because his party lifestyle had forced him into debt. When his debts reached £10,000 he hatched the plot to defraud his own family.
Mr Verma disappeared after he left his father's shop in the city's Karol Bagh district on Boxing Day.
When his father called him on his mobile phone his 'kidnapper' answered, telling him his son was being beaten up and that he would only be released after the payment of a two million rupee (£25,000) ransom.
The family discovered Mr Verma's plot when his brother delivered the payment.
Police said Mr Verma would not face charges if his father withdrew the complaint.
"If the father, who is the complainant in the case, decides to withdraw the complaint, the son can walk free with the orders of the court," a police office told The Hindustan Times.
Daily Telegraph