New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Inspired by a popular web series, two 22-year-old cousins staged a fake kidnapping and demanded a ransom of Rs two lakh from their family, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, Nadeem and Aftab, are residents of Zakir Nagar and they snatched a mobile phone from a woman on the same day, they said.

Police said Nadeem worked with his father in a furniture shop but neither did his father let him consume alcohol, nor did he give him any extra money.

So, taking cues from the web series 'Breathe: Into the Shadows', they decided to stage a kidnapping and Aftab made a fake ransom call to his father demanding Rs two lakh as ransom amount.

The matter came to notice on Monday after police received a call from Aftab's father who informed them that his nephew, Nadeem, had been kidnapped. He also informed them that the kidnapper had demanded Rs 2 lakh ransom for Nadeem's release.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) RP Meena said, "Our police team initiated a search and checked CCTVs in the area. We also checked call detail records of Nadeem's phone and found that he was in constant touch with a female friend. When contacted, his friend told police that Nadeem was with his cousin Aftab." 

During enquiry, the complainant said his son Aftab was also missing, he said.

On checking the CCTVs, it emerged that no such kidnapping had taken place, he added.

Later, police received another call about a woman being robbed of her mobile phone at Jamia Nagar and on examining the CCTVs, it was found that both Aftab and Nadeem were involved in the snatching case, the officer said.

The two men were arrested following raids on Tuesday.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)