On November 20, Bollywood actor Mushtaq Khan was kidnapped in a shocking incident. In a recent press conference, the actor shared the entire ordeal, revealing how the harrowing experience unfolded.
Mushtaq described how he had often seen scenes in movies where kidnappers blindfolded their victims and took them to a remote location to demand ransom. “I never imagined such a thing could happen to me, but it did,” he said. He explained how actors are frequently invited to events as chief guests or for awards, a trend that had increased significantly after his role in Welcome. These calls often came with offers of honorariums or other incentives.
Mushtaq recalled receiving a call in late October from a man named Rahul Saini, who claimed they had met in Noida. Rahul invited him to an award function honoring artists from various fields, especially senior actors, and discussed a fee of Rs 75,000, after initial negotiations. An advance of Rs 25,000 was transferred to Mushtaq’s account, and he was provided flight tickets for November 20 from Mumbai to Delhi, with a return ticket for the next day.
Despite trying to decline the invitation due to Mumbai elections, Mushtaq eventually boarded the flight. At Delhi airport, he was picked up by a driver named Manoj, who started driving toward Meerut. Rahul assured him over the phone that the car would drop him at a Jain Shikanji stall, from where another vehicle would take him to the event.
Mushtaq reached the stall after an unusually long drive, and his vehicle was changed. He noticed that the new driver and one other person were the same individuals from the earlier car, with an additional man joining them. After some time, two men pointed guns at him, ordering him to remain silent. His face was then covered, and he was taken to a room where six men confronted him.
“They demanded Rs 1 crore and started discussing how to collect the money,” Mushtaq recounted. The kidnappers insisted on cash payments to avoid being traced. Realizing the dire situation, Mushtaq resolved to escape. “I knew if I stayed, I wouldn’t survive,” he said. He managed to flee and reported the incident to the police.
Mushtaq mentioned that the police initially found it hard to believe his story, questioning why he wasn’t drugged or tied up. However, they registered his complaint, and he provided details to the Bijnor police.
He also offered precautionary tips for others to avoid such incidents. “If someone invites you for an event and asks for your ID for booking tickets, ask for their ID in return and gather complete event details. Share the location with the local police station and inform them about your visit. Avoid using their vehicle and book your own cab, ensuring proper billing. Always confirm hotel bookings in advance.”
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh police disclosed that the four-member gang had also planned to abduct actor Shakti Kapoor. Kapoor was reportedly offered Rs 5 lakh to attend an event, but the plan fell through due to issues with the advance payment. The police have recovered approximately Rs 1.4 lakh from the gang.
This incident came to light just days after comedian Sunil Pal’s abduction.