Rakesh ‘extorted’ land from Pragati Resorts MD

Hyderabad: Days after the completion of Rakesh Reddy’s questioning by Hyderabad police in the sensational murder of businessman C Jayaram, Jubilee Hills police registered

another case

against Rakesh on Friday for extortion, based on a complaint lodged by Pragati Resorts managing director GBK Rao.

Jubilee Hills police said that Rao had lodged a complaint on Thursday claiming that several years ago Rakesh Reddy had forced him to sign documents to get a piece of valuable land belonging to Rao transferred in the name of Rakesh’s associate.

“According to Rao, the incident took place in 2012. Rakesh came to Pragati Resorts at the behest of a person to whom Rao was supposed to return money. As Rao failed to pay the money on time, Rakesh forced Rao to sign documents pertaining to land located in Moinabad and Shankarpalli,” Jubilee Hills inspector K Balakrishna Reddy said.

The victim was supposed to return about Rs 7 crore to one of his acquaintances. As he could not repay the money, the victim’s acquaintance approached Rakesh to help him get the money.

Jubilee Hills police registered a case under IPC Sections 448 (punishment for trespass) and 386 (Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous injury).

When asked about the delay in lodging the complaint, the police said that the victim feared repercussions from Rakesh if a case is lodged.

After Rakesh Reddy was arrested in the murder case, investigators discovered his alleged nexus with policemen, rowdy sheeters and land grabbers. So far, five persons including Rakesh have been arrested in the murder case. Investigators have probed two police officers involved in the murder case and a few other policemen allegedly having links with Rakesh are yet to be questioned.