Comedian-actor Sunil Pal, known for his stint on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, claims that he endured a harrowing ordeal that has left him scarred. On his way to Haridwar, Uttarakhand, for a private event, Pal says he was abducted, with kidnappers demanding a ransom of Rs. 20 lakh. After tense negotiations, Pal alleges that he secured his release by paying around Rs. 8 lakh.

Back home in Mumbai, Pal is still grappling with the traumatic experience and considering whether to pursue legal action against his abductors. Recalling the terrifying ordeal, Pal tells us, “It was a full-fledged kidnapping, and it started when I got an invite for an event on December 2 in Haridwar.”

Pal explains that he had been invited to perform at a private birthday party at a five-star hotel. “They paid 50% in advance and sent a car for pick up at the airport. I was shifted to another vehicle after one hour. That was the point when my nightmare started. I was told that they had kidnapped me, blindfolded me and taken me to a place. They said they had weapons, stressing that my life was in danger. There were 7-8 people, some drunk, shouting at me,” he recalls.

The kidnappers initially demanded Rs. 20 lakh, according to Pal, but after he explained that he could not meet the amount, they lowered it to Rs. 10 lakh. “I reached out to friends in Mumbai for help and managed to raise around Rs. 7.5-8 lakh for my freedom,” the comedian tells us. He says that he was later abandoned on the Delhi-Meerut road with just Rs. 20,000 to help him return home.

The incident came to light when Pal’s wife, Sarita, contacted the Mumbai police on Tuesday after learning about his situation from one of his friends. Pal admits, “My family panicked and reached out to the police. Otherwise, I was planning not to tell anyone.”

Mumbai: Three days after stand-up comedian Sunil Pal's mysterious disappearance and subsequent reappearance, the Santacruz police registered an FIR of extortion and abduction against four to five unknown persons on Friday. The case was transferred to Lal Kurti police station in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, in whose jurisdiction the offence is alleged to have occurred.

On Tuesday, Pal's wife approached the Santacruz police station to report her husband missing. She said Pal left for Haridwar to perform at an event but lost contact with her. She also told the police about Pal's friends received messages asking for money. Later the same night, the police were able to touch base with Pal over the phone. He said he was boarding a flight to Mumbai from Delhi. He reached the city on Wednesday and as a result, no police complaint was lodged. Pal recorded his statement with the Santacruz police thereafter.

Pal told the police that a car was to pick him up and take him to the event at Haridwar, but the vehicle left him at a dhaba where he was bundled into another vehicle. He was then blindfolded and driven to a location where he was allegedly confined.

Pal claimed the abductors were demanding a ransom of Rs 20 lakh for his release. He was threatened with dire consequences if he failed to pay up. When Pal told them that he was not carrying that kind of money, the abductors told him to make arrangements through his friends. Pal claimed he paid Rs 7.5 lakh to the abductors, after which he was dropped back in a car to Meerut. He then reached Delhi and returned to Mumbai by flight.

After returning to Mumbai, Pal told TV news channels, "I did not want anyone — not even my family — to find out about my abduction. It was only after my wife visited the Santacruz police station that everyone learnt of it."