A suspected ₹ 1 crore ransom plot ended with the arrest of a UK-returned MTech graduate after the body of a 13-year-old boy was found in the boot of an SUV following a series of road accidents near Chikkajala in Bengaluru, police said.
Police identified the arrested man as Wala Bhaskar Reddy (28), who had recently joined an infrastructure company. Investigators suspect the duo planned to abduct the boy and demand ₹ 1 crore from his family. His alleged associate, Edukondalu, a private school bus cleaner, is yet to be traced. After taking Prajwal away from the residential area, Bhaskar and Edukondalu allegedly drove him to a secluded location. Police suspect the accused recorded a video of the boy while holding him captive, intending to use it to demand money from his family. The journey, however, came to an abrupt end after the SUV was involved in multiple collisions. He later crashed into two parked cars near an apartment complex. The noise attracted residents and security guards, who stopped Bhaskar and checked the vehicle. The boy’s body was subsequently found inside the boot, leading to police intervention.
Police said there was no known dispute between the two families. Police said Bhaskar allegedly rammed the vehicle into an electricity pole before continuing towards Chikkajala. North East division Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) G K Mithun Kumar said the investigation had so far found no evidence of hostility between the accused’s family and the victim’s family.
The victim, M Prajwal, was a Class VIII student and was acquainted with Bhaskar as their families had previously lived near each other in Yelahanka.
