HYDERABAD, July 3, 2013: A degree student tried to extort money from the kin of Char Dham pilgrims missing in Uttarakhand only to land behind bars here on Tuesday.

Sunkari Sai Charan Teja (21) was arrested after he made calls to the family members of some missing pilgrims demanding money claiming that they were in his custody. “Pay me Rs. 75,000 or I will sell kidneys of these pilgrims,” he intimidated their kin over phone. They, however, asked him to send photos of the pilgrims to confirm they were in his custody. As he couldn’t send the photographs, they approached police.

Teja returned to Hyderabad as the missing persons’ family didn’t respond to his threats. The Task Force officials caught him after tracking his mobile phone calls.

SOURCE: The Hindu, DT. July 3, 2013.