The three victims, aged 23 to 26, arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 21 after booking a seven-day Pattaya tour package worth roughly ₹1.99 lakh (about 70,000 baht). After reaching Pattaya, they were reportedly approached by an Indian man who transported them individually by motorcycle to a residential property, where they were confined and, according to police, physically assaulted over the following days. Their captors demanded a ransom of 7 million rupees (around 2.4 million baht) from each victim's family, and staged photos and videos — including spraying one victim with red paint to simulate bleeding — to pressure relatives back home into paying.

The case broke open after a relative of one victim alerted Thai police, who traced phone numbers used by the kidnappers to a number registered in Dubai and eventually located the property on Map Tato Road in Pattaya's Nongprue area. Officers rescued the three victims on Monday, finding them locked in two bedrooms with their limbs and mouths bound. The suspects fled the property on motorcycles just minutes before police arrived.

Investigators subsequently tracked five Indian nationals — identified as Avtar Singh, 38, Jagjit Singh, 38, Rambalak Kumar, 24, Sukhbir Singh, 37, and Kulra Singh, 27 — to a hotel in Bangkok's Khlong Tan area on Tuesday, arresting them in the lobby and upstairs rooms just hours before they were scheduled to board an outbound flight. According to police, the suspects said they had been instructed by a Pakistani national they'd been in contact with through a chat application for about a month, and had been promised valuables, cash and airline tickets out of Thailand once the operation was complete. The suspected mastermind is believed to be based in Dubai and had planned to receive ransom payments in cryptocurrency, according to investigators.

Police recovered adhesive tape, a wooden object allegedly used in the assaults, and red spray paint believed to have been used to stage the photos and videos sent to the victims' families. Investigators are also examining claims from the victims that a previous Indian tourist had reportedly been held captive at the same property, and released only after a ₹30 lakh ransom was paid.

Thai immigration authorities have since warned tourists to treat unusually cheap travel packages with caution, and the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue searching for the alleged Dubai-based mastermind and examining financial records and digital communications tied to the wider network.

 Indian-origin diamond businessman Dhiru Ramani has been released after spending nearly three months in captivity in Mali, following negotiations that reportedly ended with his family paying a ransom of €4 million (around ₹44 crore) to secure his freedom.

Ramani, 75, was freed along with two other Indian nationals—a cook and an electrician—who had been abducted with him while working at a gold mining project in the West African nation.

Following his release earlier this week, Ramani was taken to Bamako, where he underwent medical examinations. Officials said his condition is stable, although he remains in Mali while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping.

Kidnapped During Mining Project

Ramani was kidnapped in April by an unidentified armed group while overseeing operations at a gold mine he had recently acquired in Mali.

Originally from Dhar village in Gujarat's Amreli district, Ramani built his business career in Surat's diamond industry before later expanding into mining ventures in Africa.

According to reports, the kidnappers did not contact the family for nearly two months after the abduction. Security experts say such delays are often used by armed groups to increase pressure during ransom negotiations.

Ransom Negotiations

When communication was eventually established, the abductors reportedly demanded €10 million (around ₹100 crore) for Ramani's release.

According to family sources, negotiations intensified in the final stages, and the family first confirmed Ramani's safety through a video call before agreeing to pay €4 million.

Reports indicate that the negotiations were handled privately by Ramani's family, which is based in the United States, without direct involvement from Indian or US government agencies.

Despite the prolonged captivity, Ramani is said to have remained in relatively good health. The presence of a cook among the hostages reportedly ensured they received regular meals throughout their detention.

Security Situation in Mali

The kidnapping has once again highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Mali, where militant groups and criminal organisations have increasingly targeted foreign nationals involved in business and mining activities.

Around the time of Ramani's disappearance, the Indian Embassy in Bamako issued an advisory urging Indian citizens in Mali to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel and restrict movement because of rising militant activity.

From Diamonds to Mining

Ramani entered the diamond business in the early 1980s and became a well-known figure in Surat, one of the world's largest diamond processing hubs.

He later relocated to the United States, where his family diversified into natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and luxury jewellery.

About two years ago, he expanded into Mali's gold mining sector in search of new investment opportunities.

Malian authorities are continuing their investigation to identify those responsible for the abduction. Ramani is expected to return to the United States after completing legal formalities and receiving clearance from local authorities.