Mystery behind 15-yr-old boy’s murder cracked

*Abhay Modani, son of a businessman, was kidnapped on Wednesday and his body was found stuffed in a box on the same day
*Police are understood to have arrested the prime accused in Eluru

Hyderabad: The city police on Friday apprehended two persons, including the prime accused from Eluru, in the kidnap and murder of 15-year-old Abhay Modani, son of a businessman Raj Kumar Modani from Shahinayath Gunj.

Learning about the hawala business of Abhay’s father, the prime accused hatched a plan to abduct the boy and make a fast buck, sources said. Abhay, who left his house on Wednesday evening was found dead and packed in a carton box at Secunderabad railway station the same night.

During investigation of the case, the prime accused was identified as one Sai (name changed) of Eluru in Andhra Pradesh, who earlier worked as a valet at the house of Pradeep Dharik, a scrap businessman and neighbour of Abhay Modani. He joined the job about six months ago, had left 10 days ago, sources said.

Sai, who used to work in the next house of Abhay in Om Colony of Katedan, learned that Abhay’s father also was doing hawala business and earning huge amounts of money. Knowing about this, Sai, who was in financial crisis, hatched a plan to abduct Raj Kumar’s son and earn easy money.

Accordingly, he hired some assailants from Mangalagiri and explained them about his plan and offered some share of the ransom on successful deal.

He (Sai) bought four SIM cards with fictitious names and distributed among the assailants. For about 10 days, he conducted recce on Abhay’s movements.

Subsequently, on Wednesday at about 4.30 pm, when Abhay went out to bring some eatables to his family members, Sai picked him up on a bike and took him to Darussalam area from there he was abducted in another vehicle.

Waiting for a long time for his son’s return, Raj Kumar lodged a complaint with the Shahinayath Gunj police. Last location of Abhay’s mobile was traced to Hindi Nagar at 5.30 pm. At about 10.20 pm, the abductors called Abhay’s aunt demanding Rs 10 crore as ransom for safe release of Abhay.

Within 15 minutes, another call was received from the abductors for negotiation and came down to Rs 5 crore as ransom. While the police were tracing the calls, they found that Abhay’s body was found in a carton box, with his hands tied and tobacco like material stuffed in his nose and sealed with a plaster. The police said he was smothered to death.

Based on the CC Camera footage retrieved from traffic junctions, the police searched for the accused who had abducted Abhay.

On Friday, Abhay’s twin brother Abhishek identified Sai and some of his classmates also identified him. With the clues received and the evidences gathered, the police headed to Vijayawada and nabbed Sai and his associates, sources said.

However, the police did not confirm about the arrest of accused and said the case is still under investigation.