Gwalior Man Held Hostage Over Loan Uses Kidnapper’s Device To Alert Family; Rescued

A quick-thinking move using a smartwatch helped rescue a 25-year-old hotel manager who was allegedly abducted and held hostage over a loan dispute in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district.

The victim, Saurabh Sharma, a resident of Koteshwar Colony, works as a hotel manager in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and had returned home on leave a few days ago.

Police said Saurabh had borrowed Rs 2.90 lakh from local moneylenders Hemant Sharma, also known as Chhotu Tyagi, and Sachin Tyagi.

Although he had repaid Rs 3.20 lakh, the lenders allegedly imposed compounded interest and began demanding Rs 6 lakh, threatening him with serious consequences.

According to investigators, Saurabh was intercepted by the two accused near his house and asked to accompany them on a motorcycle.

When he refused, they allegedly forced him along and took him to Sachin Tyagi’s residence, where he was confined to a room and assaulted for failing to meet their demand.

After the assault, Saurabh was locked inside the room.

While trapped, he noticed a smartwatch belonging to one of the accused lying nearby. Using the device, he managed to place a call to his girlfriend, informing her about the abduction and sharing his location while urgently seeking help.

She immediately alerted Saurabh’s father, who approached the police.

Acting on the complaint, police detained Hemant Sharma and compelled him to contact his accomplice.

Under police pressure, Sachin Tyagi released Saurabh, who was rescued without further harm. Both accused were arrested soon after.

Confirming the arrests, Gwalior CSP Krishna Pal Singh said the case involved illegal money lending and extortion through exorbitant interest rates.

“The accused held a young man captive over a loan dispute. Based on the victim’s complaint, both have been arrested and sent to judicial custody,” he said.