Classmates extort Rs 12.5 lakh from 9-year-old boy after he steals cash to throw birthday bash

LUCKNOW: What began as a birthday bash of a teenager funded by a stolen Rs 2,000 note spiralled into a month-long ordeal of fear, threats, and extortion, costing a Class 9 student a staggering Rs 12.5 lakh kept in his house land registry.
The victim, a 14-year-old student of a private school on Kanpur Road, had no idea that giving a few friends a treat would snowball into a nightmare orchestrated by his very own classmates.
It all started innocently enough. The teen found a hefty sum—Rs 12.5 lakh—hidden in the house, meant for an upcoming land deal. Unable to resist the temptation, he quietly slipped Rs 2,000 from the stash and threw a birthday party for his close circle. The celebration, however, drew attention.
Another group of classmates, feeling left out, also demanded a party. The boy gave in. But whispers began to circulate that something is fishy about it.
A few students—some reportedly with links to outsiders—confronted him. The threats started small: "Give us cash or we'll tell your parents." But soon, it escalated. More money was demanded. Refusals were met with verbal abuse, and threats.
Pressured, scared, and alone, the child started stealing more money in bits. "The accused knew he was vulnerable and played on his fear. Eventually, they took the entire amount," said Krishna Nagar SHO Pradhyuman Kumar Singh.
The money was then used to fund a fantasy lifestyle: luxury bikes, new smartphones, a four-wheeler—all bought in the names of relatives to avoid suspicion. When the boy's father, Chandrabhan, finally noticed the missing cash and his son's strange behaviour, he approached Krishnanagar police and an FIR was registered on Apr 8.
" Two police teams, aided by CCTV footage, mobile records, and local informants, tracked down the suspects. By Thursday, seven juveniles were in custody. They confessed during questioning and have now been sent to juvenile homes," said ACP, Krishnanagar, Vikas Pandey.
Lucknow: What began as a birthday bash of a teenager funded by a stolen Rs 2,000 note spiralled into a month-long ordeal of fear, threats, and extortion, costing a Class 9 student a staggering Rs 12.5 lakh kept in his house land registry.
The victim, a 14-year-old student of a private school on Kanpur Road, had no idea that giving a few friends a treat would snowball into a nightmare orchestrated by his very own classmates.
It all started innocently enough. The teen found a hefty sum—Rs 12.5 lakh—hidden in the house, meant for an upcoming land deal. Unable to resist the temptation, he quietly slipped Rs 2,000 from the stash and threw a birthday party for his close circle. The celebration, however, drew attention.
Another group of classmates, feeling left out, also demanded a party. The boy gave in. But whispers began to circulate that something is fishy about it.
A few students—some reportedly with links to outsiders—confronted him. The threats started small: "Give us cash or we'll tell your parents." But soon, it escalated. More money was demanded. Refusals were met with verbal abuse, and threats.
Pressured, scared, and alone, the child started stealing more money in bits. "The accused knew he was vulnerable and played on his fear. Eventually, they took the entire amount," said Krishna Nagar SHO Pradhyuman Kumar Singh.
The money was then used to fund a fantasy lifestyle: luxury bikes, new smartphones, a four-wheeler—all bought in the names of relatives to avoid suspicion. When the boy's father, Chandrabhan, finally noticed the missing cash and his son's strange behaviour, he approached Krishnanagar police and an FIR was registered on Apr 8.
" Two police teams, aided by CCTV footage, mobile records, and local informants, tracked down the suspects. By Thursday, seven juveniles were in custody. They confessed during questioning and have now been sent to juvenile homes," said ACP, Krishnanagar, Vikas Pandey.