Indian businessman kidnapped in China released; flown home

Indian businessman Muhammad Danish Qureshi, who was kidnapped by local traders in China's commodity hub Yiwu last week, has been released from illegal custody and was flown back to Mumbai on Friday.

Officials of the Indian Embassy and the Indian Consulate at Shanghai, who took up Qureshi's kidnapping with the Chinese foreign ministry and police, said he was released on May 23 and brought to Shanghia and flown home on Friday.

Qureshi was maltreated by his kidnappers and sustained injuries as a result, the officials said.

He is expected to undergo medical check-up in Mumbai as soon as he reached there.

Unlike the previous kidnappings of Indian traders who were made to stay in China to pay the money owed to suppliers, Qureshi was allowed to leave the country by the Chinese police.

This is an indication that he did not owe any money to the local suppliers and his kidnapping appears to be due to mistaken identity, Indian officials said.

He was reportedly picked up from a restaurant on May 19 by his abductors.

Two Indian businessmen, Shaym Sunder Agrawal and Deepak Raheja were kidnapped and ill-treated for about fortnight in January this year before they were released following Indian government intervention.

There is a travel ban against them to leave the country. Over four months later they are still holed up in Shanghai fighting a case.

The two, who claim to be employees of a firm owned by Yamanese nationals, have paid over $1.42 million and fresh cases have been filed against them to pay more.

Qureshi's release was kept under wraps and the details were released late Friday by the Indian embassy only after ensuring that he reached India.

"We did not want him to meet the same fate", an Indian official in Beijing said.

For its part the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed happiness about his release of Qureshi.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told media here that "I am very happy to tell you that the relevant case has been properly handled" but did not give any details.

"I would like to repeat that China welcomes foreigners including Indian businessmen to do business in China and China is willing to protect their lawful rights and interests", he said.

Yiwu is the world's biggest commodity hub. Over 100 businessmen stayed there to obtain cheap supplies of goods of different kinds or Indian markets.

Due to the recurring kidnappings, Indian Embassy had put out two stern advisories warning Indian traders not to do any business with Yiwu as they could be drawn into lengthy and questionable judicial process.