HYDERABAD: On Saturday evening, Raidurgam police traced a 16-year-old boy after he called his parents asking for money by pretending to be a kidnapper. The boy was allegedly addicted to the video game, PUBG, and had left home after his parents took his phone after his grades deteriorated.

The boy, Arman Hussain, 16, from Puppalaguda was preparing for IIT. “He was a good student, but his grades were deteriorating for the past four months,” said S Ravinder, inspector, Raidurgam.

“He took a phone from a passerby and called his mother pretending to be a kidnapper. He asked for Rs 3 lakh,” added the inspector.

After his family reached out to police, the cops traced the boy at a bus stand and handed him over to the family.