S Gopal Puri
Shimla: – A day after Shimla Police rescued three missing Bishop Cotton School students from Kotkhai, investigators are now zeroing in on the suspected financial motive behind the abduction.
The accused, 45-year-old Sumit Sood of Kokunala, remains in police custody. Initial interrogation indicates that Sood had suffered substantial losses in the share market and was allegedly facing mounting debt pressure. Police believe these financial troubles may have driven him to hatch a plan to kidnap the minors for ransom.
The three Class VI boys—Angad from Karnal (Haryana), Hitendra from Mohali (Punjab), and Vidansh from Kullu (Himachal)—went missing on Saturday. Sood allegedly offered them a lift, then threatened them with a loaded firearm and a chopper.
The boys were traced to a house in Chaithla village, Kotkhai, less than 24 hours later.
Ransom Yet to Be Demanded
While police confirm that no ransom demand had yet been communicated to the families, they say Sood had taken steps to conceal his identity and intimidate the victims’ relatives.
He allegedly used a virtual phone number registered in California to make warning calls, telling the families to stay silent.
Targeted Victims and Possible Planning
Investigators are also examining whether the suspect’s choice of victims—children from politically and socially influential families—was deliberate.
One of the boys is the nephew of a sitting municipal councillor and Haryana Congress leader.
Ongoing Investigation
Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi said, “We are probing every angle, including the suspect’s financial history, communications, and possible accomplices. This appears to be a premeditated act, but we are still verifying the full extent of planning involved.”
The case has been registered under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Police are also investigating whether the weapon recovered was licensed and if any prior criminal record exists for the accused.
