'Welcome' fame actor invited to event, tortured for 12 hours

Actor Mushtaq Khan, known for his roles in Welcome and Stree 2, was kidnapped on November 20, 2024, in a ransom plot while traveling to Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Khan received a call from a man named Rahul Saini, who invited him to an event in Meerut where he would be felicitated. Saini promised to pay Khan for his appearance and transferred ₹25,000 as an advance. He also provided flight tickets for Khan to travel from Mumbai to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, Khan was instructed to get into a car arranged by Saini.

Khan was driven from Delhi to a location near Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, where the kidnappers transferred him to another vehicle. The vehicle had additional men, and the situation took a dangerous turn when the actor was overpowered. According to Khan’s complaint, he was covered with a sheet, forced to keep his head down, and driven for several hours. Eventually, they arrived at a house where Khan was held captive and tortured. The kidnappers demanded ₹1 crore in ransom, and Khan was forced to call his family, asking them to transfer the money.

The kidnappers took control of Khan's phone and managed to transfer ₹2 lakh from Khan’s and his son’s bank accounts into theirs. The gang kept Khan in captivity for about 12 hours. During this time, they began drinking, and Khan, seizing the opportunity, heard the morning Azaan. Realizing that a mosque was nearby, he managed to escape. Khan ran to the mosque, where he sought help and contacted his family. With the assistance of the local cleric and police, Khan returned home safely.

Khan’s manager filed an FIR, and the police launched an investigation. Evidence collected by authorities includes flight tickets, bank account transactions, and CCTV footage near the Delhi airport. Investigators are examining the house where Khan was kept, and the neighborhood is being reviewed to identify the kidnappers. Authorities are also considering the similarities between this case and the recent abduction of comedian Sunil Pal, who was also targeted under the pretext of attending an event. Pal, after being abducted in a similar fashion, was released after paying ₹8 lakh in ransom.

The police are investigating whether the two kidnappings are connected and whether the incidents are part of a larger extortion scheme targeting celebrities. Investigators are working to track down the suspects using the gathered evidence, including bank transactions and location details.