Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, widely recognized for his role in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Welcome, recently endured a traumatic kidnapping on the Delhi-Meerut highway. Lured under the pretense of attending an award event in Meerut, the actor faced an unexpected nightmare that lasted nearly 12 hours.
Mushtaq Khan was invited to the event with an all-expenses-paid arrangement, including flight tickets and a substantial advance payment. However, upon arriving in Delhi, he was taken by car to a remote area near Bijnor. The kidnappers held him hostage, subjecting him to torture while demanding a ransom of ₹1 crore.
Despite the intense ordeal, the abductors managed to extract only ₹2 lakh from Khan’s and his son’s bank accounts. Khan made a daring escape early the next morning when he heard the azaan. Sensing proximity to a mosque, he ran towards the source, seeking refuge and assistance from nearby residents. Local police facilitated his safe return home.
Shivam Yadav, Khan’s business partner, reported that the actor and his family were deeply shaken but determined to take legal action. On filing an FIR in Bijnor, Yadav shared that substantial evidence, including flight tickets, bank transactions, and CCTV footage, has been submitted to aid the investigation. Additionally, Khan identified the area and the house where he was confined, offering crucial leads to law enforcement.
This incident highlights a concerning trend, as comedian Sunil Pal recently faced a similar situation involving fraudulent event invitations. These developments have raised suspicions of a larger syndicate targeting celebrities to extort money through fabricated event bookings.
