Tanveer Sait gets threat call, messages; Rs 10 crore ransom demanded

Primary and secondary education minister Tanveer Sait has lodged a complaint with the DG-IGP stating he received threat messages and calls on his mobile phone from a caller claiming to be an associate of underworld don Ravi Poojary.

The calls came through to the minister's phone while he toured Sira, Tumakuru district, and was returning to the city  on Saturday.

The caller demanded a ransom of Rs. 10 crore to be handed over to don Ravi Poojary and threatened to shoot Sait dead if the money was not paid.

The minister brought this to the notice of Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and DG-IGP and asked for higher security cover.

Sait has been given additional security (including gunmen) and his mobile phone is presently answered by his secretaries.

The minister's personal secretary Ravi Kumar and Firoze, a senior official from Tanveer Sait's office have lodged a complaint with the state police chief  on Tuesday.

They have produced the Call Detail Records (CDRs) of the minister's mobile phone. The international calls were Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) based.  Investigations are on.