Man tries courtroom suicide

A man charged with kidnapping his 4-year-old nephew for ransom tried to commit suicide by slashing his throat when he was denied bail

Indian Police say Sameer Sheikh abducted his brother's son on Sept. 15 from Mapusa, in the state of Goa, and demanded 50,000 rupees ($1,125, almost R8,000) from the boy's maternal grandfather.

This even though the grandfather earns only a meager living searching garbage for items to recycle and sell.

Sheikh, 24, was arrested two days later in Mumbai, and the boy was returned to his family, after which he gave a court statement saying he had been kidnapped by his uncle.

Sheikh said he was innocent and disputed the boy's claims.

He was attending his third bail hearing Wednesday in Goa Children's Court, where police argued against his release by saying he could interfere with their investigation.

When the judge denied his bail request and ordered Sheikh be held another 14 days, Sheikh tried to cut his own throat with a sharp object, Prosecutor Poonam Bharne said.

He was treated for injuries at a hospital and returned to custody.