The teenager, who had been studying for the NEET exam, called his family late on Oct 20, claiming he’d been abducted and that a ransom of Rs 5 lakh was required for his release. The father, fearing for his son’s life, arranged Rs 3 lakh and sent the money via a mobile‑money transfer before police could intervene.
The scheme unfolded after the teen, who had borrowed about ₹70,000 to buy online games, lost an additional ₹50,000 in a subsequent session. His father, employed at a private company in Delhi, had previously reimbursed the first debt but stopped funding further purchases after repeated requests. According to DCP Jitendra Kumar Srivastava, the teen’s addiction drove him to create a desperate ruse.
Police traced the call to the victim’s own Wi‑Fi network, noting that the SIM card was removed from his phone after he left home. A voice‑note, recorded with a disguised voice, demanded the ransom and claimed the teen had died. The officers recovered the teenager and his girlfriend from a nearby hostel, where the teen was found safe and unaware of any danger.
The mother filed a missing‑person report at the Para police station, and the father was contacted by the investigation team. The police recovered key evidence, including the ransom demand message and the location data from the smartphone. The case is now being processed under the Indian Penal Code for fraud.
With the teen in custody, the investigation is proceeding. Police have filed a case under Section 420 and are compiling evidence for a forthcoming court hearing. The incident has sparked a broader discussion on gaming addiction among NEET aspirants in Lucknow.