Delhi Police rescued a 13-year-old boy and arrested a 22-year-old man in an alleged kidnapping-for-ransom case within three hours of receiving information about the incident, officials said.

The police also recovered Rs 5,000 in cash, a mobile phone allegedly used to make the ransom call, and a scooty used in the crime. The accused was apprehended after he allegedly returned to a cybercafe to collect the ransom money through a transaction arranged by the police.

According to the police, the incident was reported at Jyoti Nagar police station on October 30 at around 7.15 p.m. The complainant told police that her son had gone out to purchase some items but had not returned home. She subsequently received a call from an unidentified person demanding Rs 40,000 for the safe release of the boy.

Following the complaint, a case was registered under Section 140(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched.

A dedicated team led by Inspector Parvesh Kasana, Station House Officer of Jyoti Nagar police station, was constituted under the supervision of ACP Gokalpuri Tanvir Ashraf. The team collected technical evidence and analysed CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to trace the child and identify the accused.

During the investigation, the alleged kidnapper contacted the complainant again and reiterated the ransom demand. Police said the accused insisted on receiving the money through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and shared a barcode for the transaction.

To trace him, the police transferred Rs 5,000 through the UPI barcode using an account belonging to a police official.

The transaction led investigators to a cybercafe in the jurisdiction of Karawal Nagar police station, operated by Sunil Saini in Delhi’s Karawal Nagar area. During questioning, the cafe owner told police that a youth aged around 21-22 years had visited the establishment with a minor boy and used his UPI barcode to receive Rs 5,000 in exchange for a commission of Rs 50.

Police examined the cafe’s CCTV footage, and the complainant identified the kidnapped child in the recordings. To confirm the lead and trace the suspect, another transaction of Rs 5,000 was initiated through the same UPI barcode.

The accused allegedly returned to the cybercafe with the boy to collect the money in cash. Acting on the identification and assistance provided by the cafe owner, the police team apprehended him and rescued the child.

The accused was identified as Akash, 22, a resident of Loni in Uttar Pradesh. Police said he had no previous criminal involvement on record.

During interrogation, Akash allegedly disclosed that he worked as a delivery helper in the Sadar Bazar area and knew the victim through his cousin. He allegedly lured the boy onto his scooty before making the ransom call to the child’s mother.

The police recovered Rs 5,000 in cash, including the Rs 50 commission amount, along with the accused’s mobile phone and the scooty allegedly used in the kidnapping.

Officials said the prompt response, technical surveillance and CCTV analysis helped secure the boy’s safe recovery and arrest the accused within approximately three hours of receiving the initial information.

In a significant breakthrough against organised crime, Delhi Police have completed the main investigation and filed the main charge-sheet against an organised crime syndicate allegedly headed by Nasir Hafiz Khan alias Irani alias Sameer, officials said on Sunday.

The charge-sheet was filed by the Central District Police under Sections 3 & 4 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, in FIR No. 202/2026, DBG Road Police Station.

The action originated from the investigation of FIR dated October 23, 2025, registered at DBG Road Police Station in connection with a robbery of approximately Rs 18.84 lakh.

According to the officials, during scrutiny of the criminal activities and antecedents of the accused persons, it was found that Nasir was operating an organised crime syndicate known as the Irani Gang, along with his associates, and was involved in a series of organised criminal activities, including robbery, cheating and other serious offences across different States for pecuniary gain and undue advantage.

The investigation revealed that the syndicate was allegedly operating in a coordinated manner, with different members performing specific roles in the execution of criminal activities, arranging vehicles and logistics, handling the proceeds of crime, and facilitating the disposal of stolen jewellery and other valuables.

Officials said that Nasir, the alleged head of the Irani Gang, has approximately 42 previous criminal involvements across Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other States, as per the criminal records examined in the original proposal.

“The accused and his associates were found involved in multiple cases of robbery and cheating, including cases in which charge-sheets had been filed and cognisance taken by competent courts,” the police said.

On the basis of detailed scrutiny of criminal records, previous charge-sheets, judicial proceedings and the continuing unlawful activities of the syndicate, police said that an approval under Section 23(1)(a) of MCOCA was obtained from the competent authority, following which an FIR was registered at PS DBG Road under MCOCA on June 12 this year.

Officials stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT), under the overall supervision of ACP Saurabh A. Narendra, and the PS DBG Road SHO conducted an extensive investigation into the activities, financial transactions, assets and criminal network of the syndicate.

During the investigation, apart from Nasir, two principal accused persons were arrested and charge-sheeted. The accused were identified as Ali Chunna alias Raja, an active associate of the syndicate who was arrested on August 10 this year and has been previously involved in 10 criminal cases; and Akbar Ali alias Kabir, an active associate of the syndicate who was arrested on August 22 and has been previously involved in 22 cases.

“The investigation involved examination of numerous criminal cases registered across different States, detailed scrutiny of bank accounts and financial transactions, verification of vehicle ownership and loan documents, examination of property-related records, recording of witness statements and collection of documentary and material evidence,” officials said.

As part of the financial investigation, a detailed analysis of bank accounts revealed substantial suspicious cash deposits, online transfers, UPI transactions and ATM withdrawals.

The investigation revealed that proceeds suspected to have been generated through criminal activities were allegedly routed through multiple bank accounts, including accounts of associates and family members, and subsequently utilised for vehicle purchases, loan instalments and other financial transactions.

The financial trail, bank statements and supporting documents have been incorporated into the charge-sheet, officials said.

The investigation further indicates that jewellery allegedly obtained in incidents in different States was brought into the Delhi network and disposed of through local jewellery channels.

The investigation established the alleged use of vehicles purchased and financed through funds suspected to be generated from organised criminal activities. It was also revealed that certain vehicles were allegedly financed by members of the syndicate and subsequently used by other associates for their criminal activities.

Documents relating to properties situated in Delhi, Greater Noida and other places were examined. A rent agreement and its supporting identity documents were scrutinised, which revealed the alleged use of false identity particulars by certain associates, officials said.

They further stated that statements of relevant witnesses and documentary evidence concerning the properties and transactions were collected and incorporated into the charge-sheet.

The investigation also included recording of confessional statements of accused Nasir and Ali Chunna under Section 18 of MCOCA, in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure.

These statements, along with independent witness statements, bank records, vehicle documents, property records, previous charge-sheets and other material evidence, have been placed before the competent court, officials said.

After completion of the main investigation, a comprehensive main charge-sheet under Section 193 BNSS has been filed before a Special Exclusive Court-12 (MCOCA) at the Rouse Avenue Courts against the three accused.

All three accused persons are presently in judicial custody.

“Further investigation is continuing to identify, trace and apprehend the remaining associates of the syndicate, examine additional financial transactions and trace further properties and proceeds suspected to have been generated through organised criminal activities. A supplementary charge-sheet will be filed upon completion of further investigation,” the police said.

Three members of a family, including a five-month-old child, were killed when a speeding pickup truck collided with their motorcycle in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district, police said on Saturday.

The deceased have been identified as Ajit Panwar, his wife Pooja Panwar and their five-month-old son Shivanshu. They were residents of Indra Colony in Ashta town of neighbouring Sehore district.

The accident occurred in the Salsalai police station area when the family was travelling from Bolai village towards Ayyapur for temple darshan.

According to preliminary investigation, a stray dog suddenly came in front of their motorcycle. Ajit, who was riding the two-wheeler, tried to avoid hitting the animal but lost control of the motorcycle, which swerved into the path of a pickup truck approaching from the opposite direction. The pickup truck hit the motorcycle with considerable force, leaving all three family members critically injured. The motorcycle was badly damaged in the collision. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared all three dead.

The family had left home on Saturday to visit a temple and offer prayers to mark the completion of five months of their son Shivanshu. However, they met with the fatal accident before reaching their destination.

“The family was going for temple darshan with their child when a stray dog suddenly came in front of their motorcycle. The rider tried to save the animal but lost control and collided with a pickup coming from the opposite direction,” a police official said.

The pickup driver fled the scene after the accident. Police seized both vehicles and registered a case against the unidentified driver for rash and negligent driving.

“Efforts are underway to trace the absconding driver with the help of CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is underway,” the official added.