R. Mangalam School in west Delhi's Vikaspuri, Ribhu was returning home from school on his Scooty two-wheeler along with a friend, Sushanth, who was riding a motorbike, when they were stopped by men driving a Wagon-R car. They were only 40 metres from the entrance to Ribhu's home in the State Bank of India (SBI) Apartments of Vikaspuri.

According to police, two unidentified men got down from the car and started beating up Ribhu. When Sushanth tried to intervene, he was also beaten and pushed away. The men pulled Ribhu into the car and sped away.

Sushanth and some eyewitnesses immediately called the police control room to report the kidnapping and even provided the car number. Later in the evening, the kidnappers called up Ribhu's father Sanjay Chawla, a businessman, and demanded Rs.2 million for the boy's release.

It is not yet clear if any or all the ransom was paid, but Ribhu's body was found the next day.