5 arrested for realtor’s kidnap

HYDERABAD: Punjagutta police on Sunday arrested five persons who kidnapped and extorted Rs 70,000 from a city-based realtor, Narendra Thukral, of RK Puram in Secunderabad. Police arrested A Santosh Reddy, a Visakhapatnam Dockyard employee, Rajesh Kumar, an employee of a nationalised bank, Prasad, a fashion designer, Janardhan, a marketing executive and Sai Krishna, a businessman from Visakhapatnam.
According to Punjagutta SI Ravi Kumar, businessman Narendra, who was looking for a loan to set up new business, was contacted by one Santosh Reddy, claiming to be a representative of SBI, with a promise to arrange Rs 50 crore loan. Narendra readily agreed to take the loan and after a few days, Santosh again contacted him over the phone saying that, he needs to deposit Rs 5 crore in the account as a security deposit to get the loan. But, Narendra was only able to deposit Rs 10 lakh.
When Narendra expressed his disinclination to pay the money, Reddy asked him to meet him near a shopping complex in Somajiguda on February 3 to discuss the issue. He took Narendra to a flat in Sainikpuri and made him call his brother Wajender Thukral.
“The accused made Narendra ask his brother for Rs 70,000 to get released safely. Accordingly, Wajender paid the amount to the kidnappers and Narendra was released. After the release, Wajender lodged a complaint with the police and we nabbed the culprits from their hideout in Sainikpuri,” the SI said.