India, Oct. 28 -- A 37-year-old school bus owner-driver was arrested for trying to extort money from several parents by sending them threatening messages claiming he would kidnap their children if they didn't pay up. The police said that the accused, who also ran a mobile shop in Kashimira, had used a customer's SIM card to send the messages.

According to the Kashmira police in Mira Road, several people whose children studied at the St Jerome Convent High school, Mira Road East, had received messages from an unknown number demanding Rs.4 lakh worth extortion money in exchange for their children's safety. The threatening messages began a week ago, but most parents ignored them, the police added.

One such parent of a 14-year-old, approach...