A 24-year-old youth was arrested for allegedly abducting a mobile phone shop owner in a car in Chintadripet, after luring him out of his shop on the pretext of collecting money and threatening him over a ₹10 lakh-loan given to the victim’s brother.
The arrested man was identified as Sethuraman, 24, of Aminjikarai. The victim, Ashok, 27, from Rajasthan, runs a mobile phone shop on the third floor of a building on Athipattan Street in Chintadripet.
According to the police, on Friday night, Sethuraman, who was known to Ashok, visited his shop along with his friends and said they wanted to buy old mobile phones. They allegedly ordered and packed electronic items, including 97 AirPods, a massage gun, and mini cooling fans, worth around ₹1.5 lakh.
Sethuraman then told Ashok that the money was in his car and asked him to accompany them to collect it. When they reached a car parked near Metro railway station, Ashok was allegedly forced into the vehicle.
While driving towards Anna Nagar, the accused allegedly threatened Ashok, telling him he was responsible for repaying the ₹10 lakh lent to his younger brother and that he should pay the amount.
When the car was stopped near V.R. Mall in Anna Nagar, Ashok allegedly pushed the accused and escaped. He subsequently lodged a complaint with the Chintadripet police.
Following the complaint, a police team conducted an investigation and arrested Sethuraman on September 26.
They recovered the electronic goods allegedly taken from the shop and the car allegedly used for the abduction.
Sethuraman was produced before a court after interrogation and remanded in judicial custody.
The police are continuing efforts to trace the other accused.
Published – September 29, 2026 05:30 am IST
