Patna, Feb. 24: A Class VIII student planned a self-abduction plot to skirt exams and make some fast bucks. But his plan bombed, landing him in police custody.

Patna police recovered 13-year-old Dheeraj Kumar following his father Birender Singh’s FIR at Phulwari Sharif police station last night. Dheeraj was at Patna Junction when the police recovered him in the early hours today.

A resident of Birla Colony area of Phulwari Sharif, Dheeraj was afraid of failing in exam, as he was not adequately prepared. His exams started today.

“Dheeraj is a student of Class VIII at Phulwari-based Mother International School. The exams have started today. His father, Birender Singh, is a teacher. Finding no other way to dodge the exams, Dheeraj planned the abduction drama. He did not take the help of anybody in planning the whole episode,” Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Alok Kumar said.

Around 7pm yesterday, the boy left home for going to a medicine shop.

“His father gave him some money last evening and asked him to give it to the owner of a medical store near his house. The boy left and did not return. When his father, Birender, went to the medical store, he found that Dheeraj had given the money to its owner and left a long time back. This alarmed Birender, who rushed to the Phulwari police station around 9pm and lodged a missing diary. Immediately the police started investigating the case,” the SSP told The Telegraph.

Around 10pm, Dheeraj gave a call to his elder sister who lives in Bihar Sharif.

“He called her and said he had been kidnapped. He added the abductors had demanded a ransom of Rs 15,000. As soon as the police were given the information, we alerted the other police stations in the district. The police started checking the vehicles. We checked the phone number from which the call was made and found that it was the number of a public telephone booth at the Patna railway station. A police team rushed to the spot and Dheeraj was found hiding in the railway station around 1am. He later told the police about his plans,” SSP Kumar said.

“We are asking him what he would have done with the money. Maybe, he would have travelled. The police are questioning him in this connection,” Kumar said.

The SSP added even though the boy was recovered not too long after the lodging of the FIR, the matter became a headache for the police. He said the guardians should keep a close watch on the activities of their children.

“It is disturbing. The police of the entire district was on an alert. The cops were moving just everywhere. The same thing happened in the case of Anuvansham, a resident of Jakkanpur. It is very important that parents know what their children are doing. They should have the knowledge about them and their company. Else, it becomes a problem for the police,” the SSP added.

On February 15, Anuvansham planned to extort money from his mother, using the same tactic. He was recovered by the police two days later.