Was ransom paid on Anant's release?

Lucknow, Nov 18 (UNI) Did Naresh Gupta, the Adobe India CEO, pay ransom for the release of his three year-old son Anant ? This is a million dollar question on which the elite Uttar Pradesh police wing of Special Task Force (STF) had been changing replies till late last night.

Anant, kidnapped from Sector 15 A in Noida on November 13 morning was rescued yesterday amid 'initial' claim of STF that no money was paid for his release.

The role of STF, which has won many laurels by working out some of the most sensational cases like attack on the Ram Janmabhumi at Ayodhya and Varanasi blasts, has come under scanner for the first time in this case.

How the ransom money was recovered within hours of Inspector General of Police (IG), STF Jagmohan Yadav vehemently denying any ransom being paid for the child's release.

Mr Yadav had just consolidated the 'no ransom' theory after going on records refuting it. In fact, he sounded elated over the commendable and professional investigation through a joint operation of STF and Noida police in getting back Anant. '' It was just the pressure mounted by the force on the kidnappers who were novice enough to wilt under the extreme pressure,'' was IG's version.

Similar claims were made by Senior Suprintendent of Police (SSP) of Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida) R K S Rathore who spoke to UNI just after Anant reached his house claiming ''The child was recovered following sustained efforts by the STF and Noida police under the guidance of IG (Zone), Meerut.'' No senior STF official was available for comments throughout the day and the only officer who could be contacted 'feigned' ignorance about the ransom issue leaving it to top officials to make statements. Almost all the top officials were seen with Anant and his father Naresh Gupta during the course of day.

Not only the STF officials, even the senior police officials chose to evade media queries instead of speaking about the breakthrough they had achieved.

It was until 2000 hours when the IG, STF Jagmohan Yadav decided to go on record categorically denying that ransom was paid. He went a step further saying the crime had no involvement of any politician. It was just a matter of a couple of hours when he was proved wrong and Rs fifty lakh of the ransom was recovered.

Surprisingly, the STF and Noida police said Naresh Gupta had admitted of paying ransom which he had been denying all through.

The senior police and STF officials were still incommunicado as their mobile phones were switched off.

UNI SB/MB AT HS1418