Actor Rajesh Puri's Kidnap Ordeal Deepens Festival Gratitude

For veteran actor Rajesh Puri, Ganesh Chaturthi has taken on a profound significance, marking nearly two decades of family tradition and a renewed sense of gratitude. This is largely due to a harrowing incident that occurred in September 2024, when he was allegedly lured to Delhi under the guise of attending an event and subsequently kidnapped. Puri was later found and returned home safely after being released near the Delhi-Meerut border. He recounts that the experience has made the festival an even stronger expression of thankfulness.

Recalling the events of September 2024, Puri described how he traveled to Delhi on September 8, believing he was attending an award function. He had been offered Rs 35,000 and a return ticket, with his contact initially seeming legitimate. However, suspicions arose when the men who picked him up from the airport replaced his taxi with a car lacking a license plate, and the driver wore a mask. The journey towards Meerut, instead of Delhi, further heightened his unease.

Realizing he was in a dangerous situation, Puri managed to communicate with one of his captors, who admitted it was a kidnapping and advised him to leave immediately. He insisted on being dropped off at the border, where his brother-in-law eventually picked him up. This ordeal has deeply impacted his perspective, reinforcing his faith and making each Ganesh Chaturthi a powerful reminder of his safe return and the opportunity to be with his family.