Father fakes son’s abduction to demand Rs 6 lakh ransom for gaming debt, arrested

A man in Meerut allegedly staged the kidnapping of his minor son and demanded Rs 6 lakh as ransom in an attempt to clear debts accumulated through online gaming , police said on Wednesday. The accused has been arrested by police , and the boy was recovered safely .

According to police, the accused, identified as Deepak, is a resident of Ashok Nagar under the jurisdiction of the Kankerkhera police station . On March 10, he lodged a complaint claiming that his 15-year-old son, Harsh Kumar alias Honey , had gone missing on March 9 after leaving home for coaching classes.

Deepak told police that unidentified persons had called him and demanded Rs 6 lakh ransom for the boy’s release . Following the complaint, police teams launched an investigation, examining CCTV footage from the area and questioning family members.

During the inquiry, officials said Deepak’s statements appeared inconsistent, raising suspicion among investigators. Under sustained questioning, he allegedly confessed to fabricating the kidnapping story.

Police said Deepak had spent significant sums borrowed through credit cards from several banks on an online gaming application called “Chill Chat” gaming app . He later took loans worth about Rs 2 lakh through online loan applications and spent that money on gaming as well.

As a result, his total liabilities reportedly rose to around Rs 7–8 lakh debt . Troubled by mounting financial pressure and repayment demands, Deepak allegedly persuaded his son to go into hiding and then reported him missing to create the appearance of a kidnapping.

Police said the plan was intended to obtain ransom money to clear his debts. However, investigators uncovered the plot during the probe.

Officials confirmed that the accused has been arrested and the minor boy safely recovered, while further legal proceedings are underway.