Former Andhra minister taken into custody in kidnap case

A group of around 15 people identifying themselves as IT officials entered the house of Praveen Kumar, also the relative of the Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao in Bowenpally area on Tuesday night under the pretext of carrying out 'searches'. The gang then confined him and his two brothers - Naveen Rao, Suneel Rao to a room before taking them to a farmhouse.

Hyderabad:Former Andhra Pradesh minister Bhuma Akhila Priya was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with the kidnapping case of former badminton player Praveen Kumar and his brother.

Priya is being questioned by the Bowenpally police while her husband Bhargava Ram is reportedly absconding.

A group of around 15 people identifying themselves as IT officials entered the house of Praveen Kumar, also the relative of the Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao in Bowenpally area on Tuesday night under the pretext of carrying out 'searches'.

The gang then confined him and his two brothers - Naveen Rao, Suneel Rao to a room before taking them to a farmhouse, they said.

It is said the kidnappers took the signatures of brothers on various papers - allegedly land deeds.

Suspecting foul play, Prathap Rao, a family member lodged a complaint with the police.

Immediately after receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Anjani Kumar reached the victim's home and a team swung into action rescuing the three within a couple of hours when the kidnappers dropped them at Narsingi area.

The trio was kidnapped over an alleged land dispute, police said adding a hunt has been launched to nab the abductors.

Later, a relative of the victims told the media that around 15 people posing as IT and police officials came to their house and produced search warrants.

They then confined the family members to a room for over an hour and seized their cellphones and laptops.

".. we grew suspicious and alerted the police," he said.

When the news of the kidnap came to light, Telangana tourism minister V. Srinivas Goud and MP Kavitha Maloth reached Praveen Kumar's house and spoke to the family.

(With agency inputs)