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Painter Raja Ravi Varma's great grandson rescued from kidnappers in Senegal

He was reportedly lured to go to Senegal to negotiate the sale of a very rare painting.

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The great grandson of renowned 19th century painter Raja Ravi Varma, Shreekumar Varma, was rescued from captors in Senegal after a police operation, according to a report in The Hindu. According to the daily, he was lured to go to Senegal to negotiate the sale of a very rare painting by Raja Ravi Varma.

Shreekumar Varma, scion of the royal family of Travancore, reportedly went to Senegal to sell a painting which is part of the royal family's collections of original works. According to the daily, the others in the family also supported the sale of this painting and Varma was trying to negotiate the deal. The daily reports that he was to contact a Subramaniam Seshadri, who reportedly works in an Indian-owned construction firm in Senegal. However, things went wrong right from the time he landed in Dakar on January 18. 

A Senegalese man named Abdul met Varma at the airport stating that Seshadri could not meet him. Varma was reportedly in touch with his son last on January 23 when he told him that he was having problems. Post this, he was kidnapped, adds the report. A member of Varma's family did not reveal whether any ransom was paid, but has told the daily that he went through a very difficult time. The Senegalese police rescued him and Varma is now at the Indian Embassy in Dakar. 

The daily adds that Indian diplomats are now investigating the matter. 

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