Four suspects who have been held in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Adnan Patrawala have told interrogators that they were able to abduct him on the sixth attempt, police said on Saturday.

"The gang liked to splurge on gaming in big parlours and liquor due to which they were in want of money. They had decided to abduct someone and reached the name of Adnan as he was very wealthy," said a senior police official.

Sixteen-year old Adnan, son of a wealthy businessman, was kidnapped on August 18 and later murdered as the abductors got scared following the broadcast of news on television channels.

Four of Adnan's acquaintances -- Sujith Nair (28), Ayush Bhatt (19), Khimesh Ambavat (17) and Rajiv Dhariya (24) -- have been arrested so far while they are on the lookout for the fifth one identified as Lalan.

"Though Sujith is the mastermind, Ayush also has a great role to play in the incident as he was the closest to Adnan. The gang has told us that they were successful in abducting Adnan on their sixth attempt," said the official.

It was due to Ayush that Adnan came out of the house late at night on August 18 and the gang had been planning for over one and half month about the abduction, the officer said.

"They were armed with a rope, pepper spray and sleeping pills at the time of abduction and he was drugged before being killed," the officer said.

"Adnan was sitting on the rear seat of the car being driven by Sujith. He was sitting between Ayush and Khimesh who strangulated him using a rope while Rajiv sat in the front seat holding his hands."