Kashiguda kidnap case: Cop-kidnap link exposed

Hyderabad: Inspector and station house officer of Neredmet Police Station, N. Chandrababu, was suspended on Tuesday by the Cyberabad Commissioner of Police for his “involvement” in a kidnap case that took place in January in Kushaiguda.

Though Chandrababu was not directly involved in the crime, higher officials from Cyberabad said that the inspector was aware of the offence as one of the suspects had informed him about it.

Suspected cop suspended
The officer was suspended for concealing information about the crime from concerned investigation officials. Police, however, has not got any evidence that the inspector had gained from the kidnap.

On January 25, a gang had abducted former businessman Mr B. Bala Krishna Rao (74) from his home at Sainikpuri to extort money and crores worth property.

The kidnap was planned by Mr Rao’s acquaintance Madhav Yadav, who knew that Mr Rao lived alone. Yadav and his aides hired a few people from Anantapur to carry out the plan. The gang wanted to get Mr Rao’s '30-crore worth land at ECIL crossroads and a few other assets.

“Rao’s son had died earlier while his daughter lives in the United States. He owns property worth several crores in different parts of the state. The gang’s plan was to threaten him, torture him and make him sign documents to transfer his property,” said Kushaiguda inspector N. Venkata Ramana.

The gang broke into Mr Rao’s house on midnight of January 25, overpowered him and took him to Madhav Yadav’s farmhouse in Keesara.

“However, the victim’s neighbour noticed the kidnap and informed us. When we started a search the next morning, the abductors dropped him back and fled from the area. We do not know how the kidnappers got to know that we were searching,” said an investigation official from Kushaiguda.

Following an investigation, police arrested four people who were part of the abduction. “One of the suspects, Murali Naidu’s call records showed that he had called Neredmet inspector Chandrababu’s phone several times after the abduction. When inquired, the suspects confessed that they had told the Inspector about the kidnap and plans. However, the inspector had concealed the entire matter from us,” said an investigation official.

Madhav Yadav, a realtor, is still absconding. Police is searching for two other of the gang, Subba Reddy and Ravindra Reddy.

Meanwhile, senior officials from Malkajgiri Zone submitted a report regarding the Neredmet inspector’s action to commissioner C.V. Anand, who suspended him and ordered a departmental inquiry against the officer.

“Mr Chandrababu has been suspended from service for involving himself in the kidnapping case of Kushaiguda. From the evidence available, it is  apparent that the officer was aware of the entire case and had failed to inform any police officer about the accused. A departmental enquiry will be held against him,” stated an official release from commissioner’s office.