Surat: Reeling under huge debt, a CRPF constable kidnapped an eight-year-old boy who was living in the neighborhood for ransom and ended up killing the kid as he tried to raise an alarm. 

The accused has been identified as Shailendra Rajput. 

According to police, Rajput was posted in Madhya Pradesh ’s Gwalior. 

CRPF Official Was Under Debt After Losing Money In Stock Markets

Rajput had lost Rs 16 lakh in the stock market and to adjust the losses he took a massive loan. He abducted the child and demanded a ransom of Rs 5 lakh to settle his debts. 

The boy was the son of an industrial worker and frequently visited Rajput’s house to play.

“Rajput kidnapped Shubham, taped the child’s mouth shut to prevent him from shouting or alerting anyone, which caused the boy to faint,” an official said while adding that the deceased was put in a metal trunk.  

Misled Police Investigators By Taking Inspiration From Crime Shows

Worried about their son’s prolonged absence, the family of the child lodge a missing complaint.

CRPF official cleverly tried to mislead the police by demanding the ransom from the family after killing the boy. 

“This way he was trying to buy time to dispose the body,” police said.  

He told the police that the idea of misdirecting the investigation came from crime shows and movies.

Rajput made the ransom call from a cellphone he had found on a train. He had used the same phone to call several unknown women in recent months. Police traced one of these women, who revealed that although she didn’t recognize the caller, he had appeared in a video call wearing an armed forces uniform.

Once the police learned he was part of the armed forces, they began inquiring in the neighborhood about anyone working in the military.

“We then started checking for people in the neighborhood serving in the armed forces. We identified the accused and upon checking his home, found the trunk in which the body was kept,” said DSP Oza.  

Police discovered the deceased body with his limbs bound and mouth taped. 

A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, police said.