Patna, May 7 (IANS) The Gaya-based doctor and his wife, who were freed on Thursday after being abducted six days back, on Friday denied any ransom was paid for their release.

The couple claimed that abductors had not demanded any ransom from them.

"No ransom was paid at all. It's a rumour only, there is no truth in it," Gupta told media in Gaya, about 100 km from here.

Gupta's wife Subhra Gupta also denied any demand for ransom was made to them. "We have no knowledge of it. Rumours that ransom was paid for our release are baseless," she said.

Several stories were doing rounds across the state, particularly in Gaya, that their family paid a ransom of Rs.1 crore to Rs.10 crore to the abductors.

"People have been talking here that a heavy ransom was paid for their release," Shoib Akhtar, a resident of Gewal Bigha in Gaya, said.

Gupta and his wife Subhra were abducted last Friday while they were returning from a wedding in Jharkhand's Giridih district. Gupta is a wellknown medical practitioner and belongs to a leading business family of Bihar.

Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) P.K. Thakur told the media that nine people have been arrested from Lucknow for the abduction of the doctor and his wife. Police have also recovered red and blue beacon lights and police uniforms from the arrested men.

They also found the doctor's new Audi and a Fortuner that was used by the abductors to take them to Uttar Pradesh.

"Nine people, including kingpin Ajay Kumar Singh, involved in the abduction of the doctor and his wife were arrested and more arrests would be made soon," Thakur said.

According to officials at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's office, Nitish had sought the help of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to trace the abducted doctor and his wife after being informed that the couple was taken to that state and confined to a safe place.

"After Nitish Kumar called Akhilesh Yadav, prompt action by police teams of both the states eventually compelled the abductors to release them," officials said.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Bihar State Health Service Association (BSHSA) have thanked the chief minister and police for safe release of the couple.