Rajkot: A sensational kidnapping case involving a Porbandar jeweller in 2024 has taken a dramatic turn during the trial after the 60-year-old turned hostile, denying that any such incident took place, and confessing that he had struck a secret deal with the alleged abductors to recover the extorted money.On Thursday, the court will hear the police’s application to file a complaint against the jeweller Pratap Vala, who was kidnapped and extorted in a cheap gold offer, under BNS Sections 229 and 236 for intentionally giving false evidence, attempting to hide crucial evidence, and obstructing justice.The incident dates back to April 26, 2024, when an FIR was registered at the Kirtimandir police station. Pala, along with two associates (Veja and Lakhan), was lured to Jaipur by the accused under the pretext of selling them gold at a 15% discount. On their way in a car, the group was intercepted at a desolate location. Other gang members arrived, tied up the three men, and abducted them. They were held hostage in an abandoned house for two days, where they were allegedly beaten with iron pipes and threatened with death. The gang allegedly extorted Rs 20 lakh in ransom from Pala and robbed them of three mobile phones.Following the complaint, the police arrested seven accused: Pratap Odedara, Ramji Katariya, Bharat Lathiya, Popat Odedra, Narendra Goswami, Ashok Kaliya, and Kamlesh Japadiya. Due to their criminal history, Lathiya and Katariya were additionally booked under the stringent GUJCTOC (Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime) Act. The police successfully recovered Rs 10 lakh in cash, a car worth Rs 12 lakh, 8 mobile phones, and a knife.A chargesheet was filed, and the case was committed to the sessions court in Nov 2024.During a hearing on Dec 30, 2025, Pala testified that he did not recognise the accused and claimed that no such incident ever occurred. This statement contradicted the earlier identification parade conducted before an executive magistrate.Suspicious of this sudden change, the police questioned Pala who reportedly admitted that he reached a private settlement with the accused, who secretly paid him the remaining balance of the extorted money. In exchange, Pala deliberately gave false testimony to protect the kidnappers and secure his financial gain, and he obstructed the justice system by giving false testimony in court in a non-compounding serious offence.Taking a serious note of his act, the Local Crime Branch (LCB) police inspector R K Kambariya filed an application in the Porbandar court to initiate criminal action against Pala.
