Kidnappers Pay ₹20K for Comedian Sunil Pal's Flight After Ransom of ₹7.5 Lakh

Mumbai-based comedian Sunil Pal was held hostage for 24 hours by five men in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, after being lured under the pretext of performing at a comedy show. The kidnappers initially demanded ₹20 lakh in ransom, but after negotiations, they settled for ₹7.5 lakh, which they used to purchase jewelry.

The ordeal began when Pal, who had been invited to perform at an event in Haridwar, was picked up from the Delhi airport by a car arranged by the kidnappers. Once in Meerut, he was forcibly transferred to another vehicle, blindfolded, and threatened with a poison-filled injection. The kidnappers demanded ₹20 lakh for his release, but after negotiations, Pal transferred ₹7.5 lakh to the accounts they provided.

After his release, the kidnappers gave Pal ₹20,000 in cash to help him return to Mumbai, promising to repay the ransom once they found jobs. Pal, who described the experience as "terrifying," immediately contacted the police and filed an FIR at the Santa Cruz police station in Mumbai after safely returning home.

Pal's wife had initially approached the Santa Cruz police when she was unable to reach him after December 2. The police soon established contact with Pal, who confirmed that he was on his way back to Mumbai. The case has since been transferred to Meerut police for further investigation, as Pal was reportedly released on a road in Meerut.