Ayodhya Trip Plot: Three Arrested for Staging Fake Kidnapping in Gonda
Three men in Gonda staged a fake kidnapping to extort money for an Ayodhya trip. Police uncovered the plot after a medical check.
In a bizarre turn of events, the Khodare police in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, have uncovered a fraudulent kidnapping plot where three individuals staged a crime to extort money. The motive behind this elaborate deception was surprisingly simple: the suspects wanted to secure funds for a trip to Ayodhya.
The Elaborate Scheme
The trio, identified as Shivam Rajbhar, Masoom Raza, and Rahul Rajbhar (also known as Suraj), orchestrated a plan to deceive Shivam's own family. To make the kidnapping seem authentic, the group used a combination of threatening text messages, photographs, and voice notes to create panic and pressure the victim's family into paying a ransom of 10,000 rupees.
Panic and Police Intervention
The drama unfolded on October 27, 2026, when Sunil Rajbhar, the brother of the "victim," became alarmed and contacted the authorities via Dial-112 to report that Shivam had been kidnapped. Acting swiftly, the police began tracking Shivam's mobile location, which eventually led them to a sugarcane field.
At approximately 7:00 PM, officers located Shivam in the field. He was immediately taken to CHC Babhanjot for a medical evaluation to ensure his safety and health.
The Story Falls Apart
While Shivam initially played the part of a victim, his story began to crumble under scrutiny. He claimed that three fictitious friends—named Vikas, Vishal, and Raj—had kidnapped him and injected him with an unknown substance. However, the medical examination told a different story; doctors found that his condition was entirely normal and there were no physical injuries or signs of struggle.
Suspicious of the lack of evidence, the police launched a technical investigation. Mobile forensics and data analysis quickly revealed that the kidnapping was a complete fabrication, masterminded by Shivam himself in collaboration with Masoom Raza and Rahul Rajbhar.
Arrests and Legal Action
On October 28, the police moved in to arrest the conspirators:
- Rahul Rajbhar, a resident of Pipra Ismail.
- Masoom Raza, a resident of Jalalpur Khalangwa.
- Shivam Rajbhar, a resident of Chutahwa.
During the operation, authorities seized three mobile phones used to execute the scam. A formal case has been registered at the Khodare police station under FIR number 292/2026, invoking Section 308(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following the necessary legal formalities, all three suspects have been produced in court.