New Delhi, Dec. 20: A 15-year-old boy in Ghaziabad faked his kidnapping for a ransom of Rs 20 lakh to entertain his girlfriend.

Anand Tyagi was held last night, five days after his parents complained he was missing, police said. The boy, who also had a fake driving licence, was sent to a juvenile home today.

“He had everyone fooled for a few days,” Ghaziabad senior superintendent of police Deepak Rattan said.

As the probe began, a friend of Anand approached them, saying he had seen the teenager’s car in a dry pond and feared he might have been kidnapped. The Tata Safari was recovered from the site with the friend’s help.

Two days later, the parents received a ransom call. On December 18, the parents left Rs 20 lakh at a pre-decided location. Anand’s father is a businessman.

The boy was arrested with a car, worth Rs 10.5 lakh, which he said was for his girlfriend. Anand also had Rs 9 lakh with him, probably for a trip to Goa with her. The girl is yet to be traced.