Former Andhra Pradesh Minister Akhila Priya Arrested In Kidnapping Case Of Businessmen, Seeks Bail

Former Andhra Pradesh tourism minister Bhuma Akhila Priya was sent to 14-day judicial custody in the alleged kidnapping case in Hyderabad on Wednesday. She has been shifted to a women's jail in Chanchalguda in the city. The Telugu Desam Party leader's husband Bhargava Ram has been taken into custody as well.

Hyderabad police detains #AndhraPradesh former Minister Akhila Priya in a Kidnapping case. She was allegedly got three persons abducted in a disputed land issue which worth a few hundreds of crore rupees.

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) January 6, 2021

She was arrested for allegedly planning and executing the kidnapping of three businessmen Praveen Rao, Sunil Rao and Naveen Rao. The brothers were reportedly abducted Tuesday evening at around 7: 20 pm by a group who posed as Income Tax officials, according to the family members.

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It is suspected that the abduction took place over "a land issue in Hafeezpet" worth over Rs 200 crore, Anjani Kumar, Hyderabad Police commissioner, said. "It emerged during investigation that Bhuma Akhila Priya and husband Ram were involved in the kidnapping," said the official adding that Priya was detained from her Kukatpally home. As per reports, Praveen Rao and two of his brothers are related to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

“Besides Akhila Priya, Srinivas Chowdary, Sai, Chanti and others are also involved. So far, only Akhil Priya has been arrested. We will form special teams and send them to Andhra Pradesh to arrest the remaining accused, who are absconding. It is not acceptable that people from outside the state are resorting to criminal activities in relation to land and other civil matters in Hyderabad. We will take stern action against such people,” Kumar said.

"Akhila Priya and Subba Reddy are the prime accused in planning the kidnap," the commissioner added.

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Now, a bail petition has been filed by the TDP leader in the Secunderabad Court. It is also reported that Bhuma Akhila Priya is in the early stages of pregnancy. After her arrest,she was taken to Begumpet and interrogated for three hours. Hyderabad Police is now interrogating the kidnappers, who were arrested near Vikarabad.

Feature Image Credit: TOI

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