Pune Crime: 19-Year-Old Agniveer Aspirant Allegedly Stages Own Kidnapping for Rs 5 Lakh
Pune, 18th August 2026: A 19-year-old youth from Uttar Pradesh, who had come to Pune for a medical examination as part of an Agniveer recruitment drive, allegedly staged his own kidnapping to obtain ₹5 lakh from his family. According to police, he planned the incident to arrange money for his girlfriend and meet his personal expenses.
The Bundgarden Police exposed the alleged kidnapping within a few hours of receiving information from the Uttar Pradesh Police. The youth was traced to a lodge in the Khadki area, where police found him safe.
The accused has been identified as Om Prakash Gourishankar (19), a resident of Banda, Uttar Pradesh. According to police, he needed around ₹1.5 lakh to give his girlfriend, along with additional money for his personal expenses. As he did not have the required funds, he allegedly devised a plan to obtain money from his elder brother.
Sent Emotional Video to Convince Family
According to police, Gourishankar informed his family that he had been kidnapped and that his alleged abductors were demanding ₹5 lakh for his release. To make the story appear credible, he allegedly sent his family a video in which he appeared frightened and was seen crying.
The family reportedly believed his claim and approached the Shahjahanpur Police in Uttar Pradesh, informing them that kidnappers had demanded ₹5 lakh for the youth’s release.
The Uttar Pradesh Police subsequently contacted the Pune Police, following which the Bundgarden Police launched a search operation in Pune during the night.
Mobile Tracking Exposes Alleged Kidnapping Drama
The Bundgarden Police conducted a technical investigation using the youth’s mobile phone number. The investigation indicated that he was in the Khadki area.
Police then searched the Crown Plaza lodging facility in Khadki, expecting to find the alleged kidnappers. Instead, they found Gourishankar there and established that the kidnapping had allegedly been fabricated.
A team from Bundgarden Police Station, including Police Sub-Inspector Rahul Pawar, Assistant Sub-Inspector Pravin Shitole, Head Constable Prakash Awhad and police personnel Dnyaneshwar Bade, Manoj Bhokare, Mauli Gaikwad and Mahesh Jadhav, participated in the operation.
Police are conducting further investigation into the incident and the circumstances surrounding the alleged staged kidnapping.
