Armed men abduct businessman

An armed gang abducted a businessman in full public view at ITI Colony in Jnanabharathi police limits on Tuesday morning.

According to police, 48-year-old Krishnappa had come to play badminton near Deepa Complex Road as usual. Even as he was getting down from his car, a gang of four to five armed men assaulted him with lethal weapons. They then bundled an injured Krishnappa into a sports utility vehicle and sped away.

Krishnappa's friends, who rushed to help him, were threatened by the abductors.

Police said Krishnappa resides in Vrishabhavathi Layout, Kamakshipalya, and owns multiple businesses such as pesticide and mosquito net making unit. He is also a realtor.

Krishnappa has married Vrinda, an accountant in one of his companies, after divorcing his first wife. However, differences cropped up between the couple after Vrinda allegedly demanded a share in his property. She had lodged a complaint against her husband at Basavanagudi women’s police station. After this incident, Krishnappa was living in a rented house near the house of his first wife.

Krishnappa used to visit his first wife on the pretext of meeting his children, which infuriated Vrinda. Police suspect her role in the abduction and are looking for her. Her mobile phone has been switched off and efforts are on to trace her whereabouts, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Labhu Ram said three teams had been formed to trace Krishnappa. The teams have been sent across City and to the rural areas. “We are trying to track the mobile phones of Krishnappa,” he added.