New Delhi, Sep 25 - A city court Friday sentenced five people to life in jail for kidnapping a businessman in 2001 and asking Rs.5 crore ransom for his release.

Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg held Jagdish alias Happy, Subhash Chandra, Prabhat Singh, Jitender alias Jeetu and Ajit Singh guilty of various offences including attempt to murder.

The gang kidnapped Amit Gogia, a software engineer and an electronic goods factory owner, from Noida June 17, 2001.

On a tip-off, Delhi Police's anti-extortion cell raided their hideout on June 22 in which one of the convicts was arrested. Later, rest of the gang members were also arrested.

The court examined 44 witness in the case. The court also imposed fine of Rs.16,000 each on Jagdish and Subhash, Rs.15,000 on Prabhat and Rs.11,000 each on Jitender and Ajit.

However, the court acquitted four accused Vijender, Lata Vohra, Vijay Pal and Mukesh for want of evidence.