Patna, March 1: Patna police, in association with their Vaishali counterparts, today rescued 16-year-old Aditya Raj, alias Mitthu, who had been kidnapped on February 25 and a ransom of Rs 1.50 crore sought for his release.

Four persons, including three boys from Sangrampur Karnauti village under Mahnaar police station of Hajipur and a girl from Patna, were arrested today in this connection.

“The mastermind behind the abduction, identified as Sonu, a friend of Aditya, is absconding. Raids are on to nab him,” Vaishali superintendent of police Upendra Kumar Sinha told The Telegraph over the phone.

Aditya, a resident of Kesaria area of East Champaran, was staying at a private lodge in Patna along with his brother Sumit Kumar for studies. Sonu, a resident of Kesaria, used to live in Patna also, the police said.

Sunil Kumar, Aditya’s father, who is a farmer, received a ransom call on yesterday afternoon in which the caller demanded Rs 1.50 crore for the teen’s release. On February 27, Aditya’s brother had lodged a missing diary in connection with the same at Bahadurpur police station of Patna City. “Four persons — Dhiraj Kumar, Hareram Choudhary, Randhir Kumar and Sudha Kumari. Though the interrogation is still on and those arrested are on way to Patna, the sole reason for the kidnap was ransom. A countrymade pistol, several live cartridges and a knife were found on the four,” Sinha said. Aditya was rescued from Dhiraj’s house.

Aditya was staying in a private lodge and preparing for IIT. He was a student of Intermediate science (first year) at Kesaria College in East Champaran. Police sources said Sonu had a relationship with Sudha, a Class IX student of a government school in Kesaria, and wanted to gift her something expensive.

“The abduction was hatched for the same reason. On February 25, Aditya and his friend, Gaurav, went to Moin-ul-Haq stadium for leisure. Gaurav, who lives in the same lodge, said Aditya had got a call from Sonu at the stadium. After a 20-minute conversation, an unknown biker came with whom Aditya left. At 11pm, Gaurav called Aditya who said his head was reeling and that he did not know his whereabouts,” another police officer said. Sources said police had put Sonu’s and Sudha’s cellphones were under surveillance and Sonu made a mistake today by switching it on to speak to his girlfriend.