Police release sketch of man who tried to kidnap Aurobindo Pharma boss Nityananda Reddy

Hyderabad: An unidentified person fired at Aurobindo Pharma managing director Nityananda Reddy's car on Wednesday morning near the KBR park in Hyderabad.

The firing took place at the high-profile Banjara Hills area, where many VIPs are known to come for their morning walks at the park.

Three shots were fired, as locals reported hearing loud gunshots near the area. The attacker escaped.

Jubilee Hills inspector Muralikrishna said Nityananda Reddy was unhurt. The miscreant who possessed an AK-47, left behind the weapon before fleeing.

It is also learnt that the attacker tried to abduct the top executive. Reddy, who is managing director of Aurobindo Pharma, said after finishing his morning walk at KBR Park, he sat in his car and was about to start it when the attack took place.

"Suddenly this man came with a gun and threatened to abduct me. I tried to catch hold of the weapon and also shouted for help and my brother tried to catch him. The person fired some rounds at my car before fleeing," Reddy said.

(Police release sketch of the accused in who tried to kidnap Aurobindo Pharma boss Nityananda Reddy)

The AK 47 used in the firing has been identified as that of the missing weapon from Greyhounds, an anti-naxal commando force of Telangana and Andhra state.

“We had registered a case, and started an investigation. The weapon went missing after a greyhound operation in Visakhapatnam in December 2013. After an internal inquiry, the officials approached us in February,” said Shamshabad DCP Mr. Ramesh Naidu.

However, the police officials are not sure where and how it went missing. “It is still unclear that the weapon went missing while they were on their way back or after reaching in Hyderabad, . Our investigation is still going on,” said the DCP.

The fact that Greyhounds, which is one of the elitist force in the country, losing a high-end weapon has brought shock to the citizen.

Meanwhile the Commissioner of Police of Hyderabad Mr. Mahender Reddy said that police have no information if the Maoists have stole the weapon. A higher official from Cyberabad said that it is highly unlikely that Maoists were behind the act.

The investigation officials of the shooting case have also got a bag of the assailant, which was left behind at the crime scene. Cops said that the weapon was brought in another plastic bag. Finger prints experts and clues teams have started examining the evidence to find out the identity of assailant.

While Mr. Nityananda Reddy remained tight lipped about his rivals, police is investigating if the recent problems cropped up in his own company lead to the incident.

However, the police officials are not sure where and how it went missing. “It is still unclear that the weapon went missing while they were on their way back or after reaching in Hyderabad, . Our investigation is still going on,” said the DCP.

Police recovered a few empty shells from the site.

Nityananda is an accused in quid pro quo investement case of YS Jaganmohan Reddy for which the trial is to begin soon in the Nampally CBI court.

The quid pro quo case allegedly pertains to investments made by various private firms and individuals to the tune of several crores in Jagan Reddy’s various businesses, as part of a quid pro quo arrangement in exchange for alleged favours during the tenure of his father, late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy as Chief Minster.