Mumbai: Aspiring actress abducts producer, held

Mumbai: A 25-year-old model-cum actress was arrested for allegedly kidnapping a Delhi-based wannabe film producer with the help of her three gangster associates, who are currently under arrest in connection with a senior citizen's murder, police said on Friday.

Simran Sood was apprehended on Thursday on the charge of abducting Karankumar Kakkad, 28, who wanted to try his luck in the film industry, said an official from Amboli police station.

"Sood along with Vijay Palande, Dhananjay Shinde and Manoj Gajkosh, all former associates of gangster Santosh Shetty and currently behind bars in connection with the murder of senior citizen Arunkumar Tikku here, abducted Kakkad on March 5. Since then the aspiring film producer is missing," the official said.

According to police, Kakkad, who had been struggling to prove himself in Bollywood here, had spoken to his real estate agent brother Aneesh Kakkad in Delhi on March 5 stating he would be soon producing a "very good" movie and was going to meet model Sood.

The victim had also met Karan Sood alias Vijay Palande, the official said, adding "However, since March 5, Kakkad could not be traced. Aneesh's efforts to contact his brother failed following which a missing person complaint was lodged on March 10."

In the meantime, Palande and his two associates were held on April 10 in connection with Tikku's murder at his apartment in Lokhandwala Complex.

That Palande had introduced himself as Karan Sood and befriended Tikku's actor-son Anuj came to light during the course of investigation into the senior citizen's killing.

"Besides Simran and Palande's role in the abduction case, we also suspect Shinde and Gajkosh's involvement in the crime. The custody of Palande, Shinde and Gajkosh would be sought soon in this case," the official said.

Police are also verifying if Palande had tried to cheat others well by introducing self as Karan Sood.

Kakkad is missing along with his BMW car, gold ornaments, iPod, mobile phone and laptop, collectively valued at Rs 45.44 lakh, police said.