KARACHI: Prominent filmmaker and distributor Satesh Anand, a well-known figure in the world of television, newspapers and advertising, is now in the custody of kidnappers. No call has yet been received to demand ransom and his family members, associates and fans are still worried. It is not clear whether Anand is still alive or not.
“A day has been passed but the kidnappers have not yet called. If they want to collect ransom, why have they not yet called?” asked one of Anand’s relatives on the condition of anonymity.
Around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Anand and his driver, Gul Baig, were on their way to Anand’s office at Karachi Press Club when a young man with a pistol intercepted their car at Kala Pul, in the jurisdiction of Frere Police Station. Anand never believed in resisting robbery bids and used to advise others to cooperate with criminals. He asked his driver to stop the car, warning him that the robber might fire at them if they did not.
The driver stopped the car and the armed man put a gun to his (the driver’s) forehead. Two more young men appeared quickly and sat in the car. One had a heavy build while the other two were very slim. All three were clean-shaven and talked in Urdu. They instructed the driver to sit in the back seat with Anand. One of the three sat in the back seat while the other two sat in front.
“One of the kidnappers called someone and said, ‘Congratulations, the work has been done.’ He was laughing the whole time,” said the driver. “They then pricked me on the arm with something sharp. It was probably some injection, because I fell unconscious immediately.” He next opened his eyes at the hospital.
A passerby informed the police help line when he saw the car with the unconscious driver inside.
The police have lodged FIR No 356/08 under section 356/34 for kidnapping on behalf of Anand’s manager, Aziz Pasha. The case was then transferred to the Anti-Violent Crime Unit (AVCU). The AVCU police have taken Anand’s car, his driver and both men’s mobile phones into custody to probe the case.
“I can not share any information because this is the case of kidnapping,” said AVCU SSP Farooq Awan. “Such cases are very sensitive and it is our responsibility to protect the kidnapped person because the kidnappers often kill the kidnapped person if they foresee any trouble.”
Anand is Pakistani by birth and entered the world of showbiz professionally after his father, Jessie Anand, also a Pakistani, died. Both father and son are prominent filmmakers and distributors. This family has rendered their services to the entertainment industry since Pakistan’s independence. The family includes Indian actress Juhi Chawla, who is Satesh’s niece as well as cousin.
Since his father’s death, Satesh Anand took over the business and gained success every day as a brilliant and honest man. He has produced a number of movies including Ishq, Laila, Noor-e-Islam, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and Hathi Meray Sathi.
In 1994, Anand entered the world of television and became a well-known figure here as well. His distribution offices, Ever Ready Pictures, operate in Karachi and Lahore. He is one of Pakistan’s top film distributors.
Anand is the father of three children and lives in Defense Phase II. His family is still shocked and awaits his return.
It is also believed that Anand had no enmities and did not receive any threatening calls before his kidnapping. “He is a very simple man,” manager Aziz Pasha told Daily Times, adding that Satesh never fought with anyone in his life, instead he would sympathize with everyone. He often advised his servants and friends to cooperate with criminals, Pasha recalled.