Cape Town – A wealthy Cape Town businessman, who was allegedly kidnapped two months ago, has been found alive.
Naushad Deshmukh Khan, 46, turned up at a house in Thornton on Wednesday.
According to police sources, the businessman was dropped off and went to knock at someone’s door.
“He told the people who he was and asked them to call the police. The people called Athlone police, who responded,” said the source.
The Constantia resident was “fine, with only a few scratches on his cheek”.
However, questions are now being raised about whether he was really snatched, after the Khan family apparently closed ranks and even stopped co-operating with police.
Read more: Kidnapped Cape Town businessman found
Cops are also remaining tight-lipped about the investigation.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said on Thursday: “The missing owner of Khan's in Rylands Estate, Athlone, was found in Thornton on Wednesday, December 28, and he is currently receiving medical attention.
“The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are under police investigation and the finer aspects thereof will not be disclosed.”
Khan, the owner of Eastern wear clothing store Khan's, in Hadji Ebrahim Crescent, was apparently abducted outside his business on November 1 by five armed men.
A female manager, 51, with him at the time, said kidnappers took her bag before bundling Naushad into a white 4x4 double cab bakkie and speeding off.
The woman was unharmed.
A few days after his abduction, Khan was said to have called home to say his kidnappers were demanding £20 million (R338m) ransom.
A source close to the investigation said questions are now being asked around the alleged kidnapping.
“His nightmare starts now. There are many questions which need to be answered,” said the insider.
“He was delivered to an address in Thornton and he had minor scratches to his face.
“Why did the family cut out the police?”
On Thursday, Hanif Loonat, the Cluster chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum, said they hope Khan will assist police in finding his kidnappers: “We welcome his return, but if this is a kidnapping in reality, we need to bring the perpetrators to book.
“We want the victim to also co-operate with the police, we do not want this to become a precedent.”
Calls to the family spokesperson and Khan's store went unanswered on Thursday.
It is suspected the married father of two was the victim of a kidnapping syndicate targeting wealthy foreign businessmen in the Cape.
On December 4, Bangladeshi businessman Mustapha Goolam was also snatched at this business in Lotus River.
Bangladeshi businessman Mustapha Goolam Picture: Daily Voice
Detectives found the dad of three beaten and handcuffed inside a house in Harare, Khayelitsha.
His kidnappers demanded a R10m ransom.
Five suspects: Pakistani nationals Haseem Khalied, 27, Zizi Jahazab, 29, and Taseen Yaqoob, 28, a South African woman Ntombikhona Mgxekwa, 28, and police reservist, Constable Melumzi Kekana, 35, were arrested.
They are expected back at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court next month for their formal bail application.
Daily Voice