Kidnapped businessman rescued in Andhra Pradesh

Sonia Narang, DCP (South), told Deccan Herald on Wednesday that a police team had rescued Pradhan (30), a stationery shop owner on Avenue Road, at Chera Samudra village in S R Puram mandal, Chittoor. “We are on the lookout for the three suspects,” she said.

Pradhan, a resident of Jayanagar II Block, called up his wife Ragashree around 10 am on March 14 and told her he was going to meet some customers near Marathahalli and that he would return home by noon. However, he did not return till late evening. Her efforts to contact Pradhan went in vain as his mobile phone was switched off. She grew suspicious and lodged a missing complaint, police said.

What went wrong?

Three unidentified men called Pradhan on his phone and requested him to come near Srinivas College Marathalli for a business talk. They introduced themselves as representatives of the college and said they were interested in placing a huge order for stationery. While Pradhan was talking to them inside their high-end car, one of the suspects forcibly covered his head with a monkey cap and kidnapped him to Andhra Pradesh. The trio thrashed him and detained him at a stone-crushing unit, police said.

By late night, the suspects called up Pradhan’s father in Bangalore and demanded Rs three crore for his release. They threatened to kill his son if his family failed to bring the money, or informed the police. However, Pradhan’s father contacted the police, who hatched a plan to nab the suspects. A police team in civilian clothes left for Chitoor along with Pradhan’s father.

On March 14 night, the suspects again called up the father and directed him to come to Mulbagal in Kolar district within 5 am. They kept calling him from different places. When they realised the police were chasing them, they changed their plan and made them run around from Palamaner to Nellore, SR Puram and Puttur.

Later, the gang pushed Pradhan out of the moving car near a mango orchard and escaped under the cover of darkness.

Pradhan managed to reach a dhaba near the mango orchard and called up his father from a coin booth and narrated the incident. The police team reached the spot and brought him back to Bangalore.

The mango orchard in Chera Samudra village belongs to Srinivasalu Naidu, police said. Investigation is on.