HYDERABAD: After investigating for nearly 10 months, the city police is planning to file a chargesheet against former AP minister Bhuma Akhila Priya, her husband Bhargav Ram, her brother Vikhyath Reddy and 27 others for allegedly being involved in the kidnap of three persons linked to chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s personal assistant and extortion.
The incident took place on January 5, 2021 when 15 persons entered the victims’ house at Bowenpally by impersonating as income tax (IT) employees and conductiong a raid. Later, the three victims, K Praveen Kumar, K Naveen Kumar and K Sunil Kumar, were kidnapped and forcefully taken into a car before they were let off at Kokapet.
As supportive evidence to prove the case, police are relying on the CCTV footages, call data records, eye witnesses and forensic reports before filing the chargesheet. Ever since Akhila Priya was arrested and later released on bail, all the accused in the case have been appearing before the police as per the bail condition laid down by the court. However, the former AP minister has sought exemption to appear before the police on medical grounds. Bhargav Ram, who is facing an additional criminal case of submitting an alleged fake Covid-19 report, has been coming to Bowenpally police station regularly as per the conditions laid down by the court while granting him bail.
“A total of 30 persons were declared as accused in the kidnap-cum-extortion case. The chargesheet will be finalised soon,” sources in Hyderabad police told TOI.
The Hafeezpet land dispute between the victims and Akhila Priya’s family is said to be the main reason that has led to the kidnap-cum- extortion.
