At about 7.45 a.m. on July 22, 1997, Tarun was being dropped off at school by his father Virender Puri, mother and servant when the incident happened. Three men, armed with pistols fired five to seven shots at them, snatched the boy from his father's grasp and fled in a white Maruti Zen and Tata Sumo, in which four other men were seated.

The police said that Bablu knew where Virender Puri's house was and ``wanted to earn quick money by kidnapping his son''. The plot was allegedly hatched at accused Pradeep Tyagi's house. It was apparently decided that the boy would be kept in Dharminder and Virender's house until the money was handed over.

In keeping with the plan, a Maruti Zen was stolen near Delhi Public School on July 4, 1997. On July 21, the men went to Sushil Nagar's STD booth in Patparganj to collect a SIM card. According to the prosecution, Nagar arranged for them to stay the night and was aware of the kidnapping plan.

Tarun was allegedly taken to Pradeep Tyagi's house initially. The ransom call was made on telephone no. 6229545 at Patila House.

According to the prosecution: ``The record of telephone no. 511671 (used by accused Arvind) revealed that at or near about the time of kidnapping calls were made at mobile telephone no. 98110-58098.'' The police had been tracking Arvind in connection with a murder case. Records were obtained from Essar Telephone, and when the owner was contacted he said that he had given the SIM card to Nagar. Nagar and Jeetpal were arrested on August 9, 1997, and a Tata Sumo was recovered from them. On being interrogated, Jeetpal revealed where they were keeping the boy. Tarun was rescued from accused Karambir Singh's house, where he was in the custody of accused Virender and Tirlok. The police also seized the Maruti Zen.

Brijesh was arrested on August 21, 1997. His disclosure statement enabled the police to recover a 315-bore country-made revolver and one live cartridge from Exort factory in Tughlakabad Extension.

The accused will be formally charged on October 7, after being given an opportunity to plead guilty or claim trial. Pradeep Tyagi, Sanjay, Brahmpal Singh and Arvind are yet to be arrested.

Additional Sessions Judge N.K. Gupta said in his order: ``... I am of the opinion that there are sufficient grounds to frame charges against all the accused persons'' under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 364-A (kidnapping for ransom), 368 (wrongfully confining kidnapped person) and 307 (attempt to murder) read with Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, and under Sections 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.