How fake IT sleuths kidnapped Hyd consultant, took Rs 30L as ransom

Hyderabad: An overseas job consultant was allegedly kidnapped from Lal Bunglow Road in Ameerpet under the Panjagutta police station limits by a group of men posing as Income Tax officials. The abductors asked for a ransom of Rs. 30 lakhs from the man’s family before releasing him. The Panjagutta police said they have some leads and will arrest the accused persons soon.

The 40-year-old B.V. Murali Krishna is an overseas job consultant. On the morning of 27 January, he rode his motorcycle to Neeraj Public School near Lal Bunglow in Ameerpet to drop his children off. He was returning home but when he turned towards Ameerpet, he was violently assaulted by five unknown persons who claimed they were Income Tax officials. They dragged him into a car and beat him.

The men drove Mr. Murali Krishna towards Ramoji Film City and stopped at an abandoned place near Bata Singaram. They ordered him to pay Rs. 60 lakhs as income tax. When he refused, they told him his brother-in-law had already been arrested and asked him to speak with him. His brother-in-law told him that he was being beaten by three people. The group also threatened to “arrest” his wife if he failed to pay the money.

Finally, Mr. Murali Krishna called his wife who arranged for around Rs. 30 lakhs. His brother-in-law collected the money and handed it over at the Nampally railway station road. The group left Mr. Murali Krishna at Hayathnagar after receiving confirmation that they had received the money. He managed to get into a bus and reached Malakpet where he boarded the metro and made his way home.

“On 27 January, they collected the ransom and released Murali Krishna,” said a police officer and added that he lodged a complaint on Saturday and a case has been registered.