A FAMILY in India kidnapped a male relative and kept him in a coffin for over two and a half years after he refused to give them his bungalow.

Rajan Killaker, 41, a biotechnology scientist, was rescued Saturday, after police in Porbunder, western India were alerted to the kidnapping by an anonymous letter, the Indian Express reported.

Investigating Officer Jaydeepsinh Sarviya said that the letter told them a local property dealer named Hitesh Karavadra killed Killaker to stake claim over his property.

Police raided Mr Karavadra’s house and found Mr Killaker in a six-foot-by-three-foot coffin.

The victim said he had been confined there since December 2007 after Mr Karavadra hit him on the head with a baseball bat and stole the keys to his house. He was let out of the coffin once a day for a meal.

“Mr Killakar, who is unmarried, was rarely in touch with his family, which consists of a brother and three married sisters. We have learned that he hardly spoke to them, once in a year or two,” said Mr Sarviya.

Mr Killaker later lodged a case of abduction and other charges against Karavadar, his wife Jyoti, mother Haraben and accomplices Deepak Rathod, Lalit, Alpesh Prakash and Vijay.

Originally published as Family lock scientist in coffin for two years