News for 'ransom demand'

Pune Businessman Accuses Godman of 600,000 Fraud

Pune Businessman Accuses Godman of 600,000 Fraud

Rediff.com26 Mar 2026

A Pune-based businessman has accused self-styled godman Ashok Kharat of defrauding him of Rs 6 crore (600,000) under the guise of helping him establish a logistics business abroad. This is the eighth case registered against Kharat, who is already in police custody on separate charges.

HP CM Sukhu Promises No Mercy for Police in Drug Trade

HP CM Sukhu Promises No Mercy for Police in Drug Trade

Rediff.com27 Mar 2026

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has vowed to take strict action against any police personnel found involved in the drug trade, addressing concerns raised by the opposition regarding the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Vehicles torched, fake Maoist posters used in Odisha extortion bid

Vehicles torched, fake Maoist posters used in Odisha extortion bid

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

Miscreants torched three vehicles of a local contractor and put up fake Maoist posters in Odisha's Kalahandi district. Police suspect the Maoist angle is fabricated and are investigating local involvement.

Sleaze video case: Court reverses order discharging Baghel

Sleaze video case: Court reverses order discharging Baghel

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

A special CBI court reversed a magisterial court order that had discharged former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from a case regarding the alleged circulation of a sleaze video purportedly depicting former minister Rajesh Munat in 2017. The reversal implies Baghel will have to face trial unless he gets relief from a higher court.

Abducted In Dubai: Celina Jaitly Fights For Brother

Abducted In Dubai: Celina Jaitly Fights For Brother

Rediff.com5 Nov 2025

Her brother, Celina Jaitly says, is a fourth-generation soldier, a man who dedicated his youth to the nation's service and received the Chief of Army Staff's Commendation for Gallantry.

Lost money in betting, UP nursing student fakes her kidnapping

Lost money in betting, UP nursing student fakes her kidnapping

Rediff.com21 Nov 2024

A nursing student, along with four friends, staged her own kidnapping in Jhansi to blackmail her family into paying Rs 6 lakh after she lost money in online betting, police said on Thursday.

Hyderabad student goes missing in US, family gets ransom call

Hyderabad student goes missing in US, family gets ransom call

Rediff.com20 Mar 2024

A 25-year-old student from Hyderabad, studying in the US, has gone missing there since March 7 and his family back in India said they received a "ransom" call.

Paytm Mall suffers huge data breach, gets ransom call

Paytm Mall suffers huge data breach, gets ransom call

Rediff.com31 Aug 2020

Hacker group John Wick is said to be responsible for the Paytm Mall database breach.

Palestinian statehood will reward Hamas: Trump at UNGA

Palestinian statehood will reward Hamas: Trump at UNGA

Rediff.com24 Sep 2025

His remarks came in response to several European nations announcing their decision to recognise a Palestinian state during a summit at the UNGA on Monday. While the move was largely symbolic, it added to Israel's diplomatic isolation. Washington, however, has made clear it does not support the step.

Smart phone, unsmart user: Kidnapper accepts ransom via UPI, arrested

Smart phone, unsmart user: Kidnapper accepts ransom via UPI, arrested

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

A 30-year-old man, who had kidnapped a child and taken the ransom via UPI on his mobile wallet, has been arrested by the Noida police who used his digital footprints to trace him, officials said on Monday.

3 Indians Feared Kidnapped In Iran

3 Indians Feared Kidnapped In Iran

Rediff.com28 May 2025

While the embassy did not release the names of the missing Indians, media reports cited their names as Hushanpreet Singh (from Sangrur district), Amritpal Singh (from Hoshiarpur district) and Jaspal Singh (from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district).

How wrong spelling helped UP cops crack fake kidnapping

How wrong spelling helped UP cops crack fake kidnapping

Rediff.com8 Jan 2025

Wrong spelling in a ransom note helped police crack a staged kidnapping in which a man tried to con his elder brother with a Rs 50,000 demand, officials said on Wednesday.

Quick Heal detects virus that demands a $300 ransom

Quick Heal detects virus that demands a $300 ransom

Rediff.com23 Oct 2013

Ramsomware, a kind of malicious software, is designed to block access to a computer until a certain sum of money is paid.

Chelsea's Mikel gets 'sizeable' demand for dad

Chelsea's Mikel gets 'sizeable' demand for dad

Rediff.com18 Aug 2011

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has received a "sizeable" ransom demand for the return of his kidnapped father, the player's management company confirmed on Thursday.

11 Punjab policemen booked for abducting youth from Rajasthan, demanding ransom

11 Punjab policemen booked for abducting youth from Rajasthan, demanding ransom

Rediff.com10 May 2022

The policemen were booked at Kota's Kunhari police station at a high court order, issued after it heard the petition of Nirmal Singh, the father of the abducted man.

'527 Soldiers Gave Their Lives In Kargil'

'527 Soldiers Gave Their Lives In Kargil'

Rediff.com24 Jul 2025

'People are enjoying freedom in everyday life because of their sacrifice.'

Pune businessman abducted, murdered in Bihar; 7 arrested

Pune businessman abducted, murdered in Bihar; 7 arrested

Rediff.com16 Apr 2025

Laxman Sadhu Shinde's body was found in Bihar's Jehanabad district on Tuesday. He had landed at the Patna airport on April 11.

Why Was Pune Businessman Killed In Bihar?

Why Was Pune Businessman Killed In Bihar?

Rediff.com16 Apr 2025

Refusal to share his mPIN cost the businessman his life.

ULFA kidnaps Assam BJP leader's son, demands Rs 1 cr as ransom

ULFA kidnaps Assam BJP leader's son, demands Rs 1 cr as ransom

Rediff.com23 Aug 2016

The United Liberation Front of Asom has kidnapped the son of a Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Assam and demanded a ransom of Rs. 1 crore.

Indian-origin child abducted in Cape Town, residents accuse police of inaction

Indian-origin child abducted in Cape Town, residents accuse police of inaction

Rediff.com15 Nov 2022

The abduction of an eight-year-old Indian-origin girl in South Africa's Cape Town and the alleged inaction of the police in probing the case has triggered protests by the residents of the city.

Her husband made her CM when...: Nitish lashes out at Rabri

Her husband made her CM when...: Nitish lashes out at Rabri

Rediff.com20 Mar 2025

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched a scathing attack on his predecessor Rabri Devi, calling her appointment as Chief Minister "suspension-induced" during a heated debate in the state legislative council. The verbal sparring, marked by accusations and counter-accusations on law and order, saw Kumar accusing the RJD of being unable to handle Hindu-Muslim tensions and engaging in "mischief." Rabri Devi, in response, asserted her right to speak about her achievements during her tenure as Chief Minister. Kumar, however, retorted with a sharp, local phrase, dismissing Rabri Devi's claims. The exchange, which saw both sides engage in mudslinging, ended with the Chairman admonishing the opposition for their unruly behavior.

The Alaska Fiasco: Lessons For India

The Alaska Fiasco: Lessons For India

Rediff.com16 Aug 2025

The point to note for India is that we must not panic. The United States may be our largest export destination, but high tariffs will not exactly mean gloom and doom. Sure, we can throw some morsels as we continue negotiating, but we must be firm that some red lines cannot be crossed, no matter what, asserts Shreekant Sambrani.

Two detained in Meerut in comedian Sunil Pal's kidnapping case

Two detained in Meerut in comedian Sunil Pal's kidnapping case

Rediff.com11 Dec 2024

Two people have been detained and are being questioned by Meerut police in connection with the alleged kidnapping and extortion of comedian Sunil Pal. Pal's wife visited the Lal Kurti police station in Meerut with three lawyers to inquire about the matter. Last week, Pal claimed that he was abducted while on his way to Uttarakhand for a show. He claimed the kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 20 lakh, but he managed to secure his release after paying Rs 8 lakh, which he collected from some friends. The comedian said he was dropped by the side of a road in Meerut, from where he made his way to the Delhi airport and flew to Mumbai. The kidnapping case of comedian Sunil Pal has been transferred from Mumbai to Meerut. The police are also looking into an audio clip that has surfaced online, in which Pal allegedly discusses the kidnapping plan with an unidentified person, mentioning his wife's awareness of the situation and media discussions about the episode. Pal's wife, Sarita, claimed the viral audio clip had been edited. She said Pal is currently at home but is unwell, which is why she came to Meerut to meet police officials. When asked about any connection to the recent kidnapping case of Bollywood actor Mushtaq Khan, Sarita said she had no knowledge of it.

Delhi doctor abducted for ransom

Delhi doctor abducted for ransom

Rediff.com6 Dec 2003

R K Gupta worked in the Ganga Ram Hospital.

Actor Mushtaq Khan 'invited' to event in UP, abducted

Actor Mushtaq Khan 'invited' to event in UP, abducted

Rediff.com11 Dec 2024

Actor Mushtaq Khan, best known for his roles in films like Welcome and Stree 2, was allegedly kidnapped on the pretext of being invited to an event in Meerut, police said on Wednesday.

State, people cannot be held to ransom by blocking way: HC on Adani port stir

State, people cannot be held to ransom by blocking way: HC on Adani port stir

Rediff.com16 Nov 2022

Justice Anu Sivaraman also said that no one will be allowed to play politics under the garb of the ongoing agitation at the multi-purpose seaport at Mulloor in Thiruvananthapuram district.

IS demands $200mn ransom in 72 hours to spare life of 2 Japanese hostages

IS demands $200mn ransom in 72 hours to spare life of 2 Japanese hostages

Rediff.com20 Jan 2015

The dreaded Islamic State militia on Tuesday posted a video showing two Japanese captives, threatening to execute them if their nation's government failed to pay up a ransom of $200 million (over Rs 1,200 crore) within 72 hours.

Cybercriminals hold SMEs to ransom

Cybercriminals hold SMEs to ransom

Rediff.com8 Oct 2009

As organisations tighten their belts during the current financial crisis, ransomware attacks could cause fragile companies to succumb to criminals who request massive pay-offs to avoid devastating consequences.

Cyber attack strikes Paris Olympics!

Cyber attack strikes Paris Olympics!

Rediff.com6 Aug 2024

French police probe ransomware attack on Olympic venue

Family gets ransom letter 8 months after kidnap

Family gets ransom letter 8 months after kidnap

Rediff.com21 Apr 2008

The family of 14-year-old Akash, who was kidnapped on way to school on August 10 last year, has received a ransom letter for his safe release even as the Bihar police continued to grope in the dark about his whereabouts. The boy's father, Yogendra Pandey, said he found the ransom letter demanding Rs 10 lakh stuck to the main door of his residence in Patna on Sunday.

Foley's captors earlier asked for huge ransom: reports

Foley's captors earlier asked for huge ransom: reports

Rediff.com21 Aug 2014

Islamist militants earlier asked a ransom of over USD 132 million from US journalist James Foley's family and employer but made no demands in their last message before brutally beheading him on camera, according to media reports.

Pune teen abducted, killed by friends over ransom

Pune teen abducted, killed by friends over ransom

Rediff.com1 Apr 2012

A 16-year-old boy was abducted and murdered allegedly by three of his friends, including two minors, who had demanded a ransom of Rs 50,000 after being inspired by a crime-based TV serial.

Blast outside Amritsar temple, ISI role suspected

Blast outside Amritsar temple, ISI role suspected

Rediff.com15 Mar 2025

An explosion occurred outside a temple in Amritsar, Punjab, India, when a motorcycle-borne person threw an explosive device towards it, damaging a portion of its wall and shattering window panes. While no one was hurt in the incident, the explosion caused panic among residents. The incident has sparked concern about law and order in the state and led to accusations against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The police are investigating the incident and have collected samples from the site to identify the material used in the explosion.

Noida: Kidnapped boy's family receives ransom call

Noida: Kidnapped boy's family receives ransom call

Rediff.com14 Nov 2006

The family of three-year-old Anant Gupta, the son of the CEO of Adobe Sytems who was kidnapped on Monday, on Tuesday received a ransom call for his release from captivity.

Kidnapped as 7 year-old, UP man returns home after 30 years

Kidnapped as 7 year-old, UP man returns home after 30 years

Rediff.com29 Nov 2024

A seven-year-old boy who was kidnapped from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, over 30 years ago has been reunited with his family. Raju, now 38, was abducted in September 1993 and taken to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, where he was forced to tend sheep and goats. He was eventually found by a Sikh businessman who helped him return to Ghaziabad. After three decades of uncertainty, Raju's family was finally reunited with him.

4 abductors of actor Mushtaq Khan held; planned to kidnap Shakti Kapoor

4 abductors of actor Mushtaq Khan held; planned to kidnap Shakti Kapoor

Rediff.com15 Dec 2024

Four members of a gang have been arrested for kidnapping actor Mushtaq Mohammad Khan from the Delhi airport and holding him hostage in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. The gang was also plotting to abduct veteran actor Shakti Kapoor on the pretext of inviting him to an event. The gang members were involved in abducting film stars by sending advance payments and air tickets under the guise of event invitations. Police recovered Rs 1.04 lakh from their possession and are investigating whether the gang was involved in the kidnapping of other film stars. In a related development, Arjun, one of the kidnappers involved in comedian Sunil Pal's abduction, was shot and injured during an encounter with police in Meerut. Arjun, who was arrested on Saturday, attempted to escape while being escorted for a medical checkup by snatching the pistol of a sub-inspector. The police team retaliated, and Arjun was shot and injured in the exchange of fire.

Pannun plot: Former official wanted by US was held in Delhi

Pannun plot: Former official wanted by US was held in Delhi

Rediff.com19 Oct 2024

Vikas Yadav, a former Indian government official charged by the United States authorities for his alleged role in a foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, was arrested by Delhi Police in December last year in an unrelated extortion and kidnapping case, police sources said.

Ransomware attacks surge over 2-fold in India in first half of 2023: Report

Ransomware attacks surge over 2-fold in India in first half of 2023: Report

Rediff.com4 Aug 2023

India saw a huge surge in ransomware and IoT cyber attacks in the first half of 2023, as criminals shifted to stealthier means of malicious activities, according to a report by SonicWall. While major economies like the US and the UK witnessed a decline in ransomware attacks, India (up 133 per cent) and Germany (52 per cent) are among the countries that saw a huge surge in such attacks, the 2023 SonicWall Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report for the January-June period stated. At the global level, a variety of other attacks have trended up, including cryptojacking (399 per cent), IoT malware (37 per cent) and encrypted threats (22 per cent), the report said.

FIR against woman who claims Ravi Kishan is her daughter's father

FIR against woman who claims Ravi Kishan is her daughter's father

Rediff.com18 Apr 2024

The FIR was registered late Tuesday night at the Hazratganj police station on a complaint by Ravi Kishan's wife Preeti Shukla.