What began as a frantic search for a "missing" young man in Lucknow ended in a twist worthy of a crime thriller — the alleged victim, his father, his younger brother and a local politician have landed behind bars for scripting the entire abduction drama to malign the police's image.

According to officials, 22-year-old Subhash, along with his father Ramkumar, 52, from Gosaiganj, allegedly staged the kidnapping on September 27, roping in family members, including his younger brother Shubham, 19, and a local community leader to add layers of authenticity.

For nearly a week, anxious phone calls, including some by local politicians, social media posts, and allegations of police apathy, kept the local force on its toes until CCTV camera footage and call records revealed the truth.

The case be

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