UAE-based Indian expat businessman kidnapped in Kerala

Dubai: A UAE-based Indian expat businessman was kidnapped on Tuesday night while he was on vacation back home in the south Indian state of Kerala, according to Indian media reports.

VP Shameer, who runs a pharmacy chain headquartered in Sharjah and other businesses in the UAE, has been living here with his family. He had gone home for 10 days, reports in Malayalam media said.

CCTV footage showed that Shameer was kidnapped when he was about to reach home on a motorcycle on Tuesday night. The visuals showed him being pulled into a Toyota Innova car that was waiting on his route.

The incident took place around 7.45pm when he was returning home after visiting a friend, a family member told 24 News TV channel.

Shameer’s business partner in the UAE received a ransom call from Shameer's phone this morning, the report said. The caller reportedly demanded Rs10.5 million as ransom.

The abductors also reportedly called Shameer’s wife and threatened her against going ahead with a police investigation into the case.

However, the family said they had already filed a complaint with the police and had full faith in their investigation.

Gulf News contacted Shameer's pharmacy company seeking a comment from his business partner or a spokesperson, but the request was declined.