A family from the Gomtipur area of Ahmedabad has allegedly been held hostage abroad after being promised travel to the UK by agents. The family — a husband, wife and their two sons — left Ahmedabad on April 20 and travelled to Delhi for a flight to London. However, they were allegedly sent through Sri Lanka and Dubai instead.
According to the family’s daughter, the agents had fixed ₹30 lakh per person for arranging the overseas travel. She alleged that the family had contacted an online agent through social media and later met agent Pritesh Joshi at his office in Chandkheda near Motera Stadium. Joshi allegedly connected them with another agent, Darshan Mistry from Valsad.
The daughter said she last spoke to her family on Sunday afternoon while they were in Dubai. The family had sent photographs from Dubai, including pictures of food and drinks, after which all communication stopped.
She further alleged that on May 4, she received a call from a man identifying himself as “Babakhan”, who claimed the family was being held hostage. According to her complaint, the callers threatened to kill the family and demanded a ransom of ₹1.2 crore.
Family allegedly threatened during video call
The daughter alleged that during a video call, a revolver was placed on her younger brother’s head while her mother pleaded for help. She claimed the kidnappers threatened to sell the family’s kidneys, burn them alive and send them to Afghanistan.
She also alleged that the kidnappers pressured her to arrange money by selling the family house or borrowing funds from others.
Police begin investigation after complaint
The woman alleged that when she initially approached the Gomtipur police station, only an application was taken and no immediate action followed. Later, she approached BJP MLA Dinesh Kushwaha, after which police registered a complaint and began an investigation.
Police have detained agent Pritesh Joshi, while another agent from Valsad has also been arrested in connection with the case.
Speaking on the matter, Dinesh Kushwaha said the woman approached him after police allegedly failed to act on her complaint for two days. He said he informed the Gomtipur police, following which action was taken.
The MLA added that the government is ready to assist the family and that an investigation is underway into why the agents routed them through multiple countries instead of sending them directly to the UK.
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