The eighth accused in the kidnapping of actors Mushtaq Khan and Sunil Pal surrendered at Bijnor (U.P.) police station on December 23. This came a day after the gang’s alleged mastermind, Lavi Pal, was arrested following a police encounter.
Before his surrender, Ankit Pahadi uploaded a video apologising to chief minister Yogi Adityanath and begging for his life. Pahadi arrived at the police station on the night of December 23, visibly shaken and weeping. He confessed to his role in the kidnapping of the two actors. The police recovered Rs. 3,000 from his possession before sending him to judicial custody.
The gang kidnapped celebrities under the guise of inviting them to events. Mushtaq Khan was abducted on November 20 from Delhi airport while travelling to an event in Meerut. Money was withdrawn online from his accounts by the kidnappers during his captivity. Mushtaq managed to escape while his captors were drunk and asleep.