Kidnapped Badminton Player Rescued

Former national-level badminton player Praveen Rao, and his brothers Sunil Rao and Naveen Rao, were rescued within hours of being kidnapped from their residence at Bowenpally late on Tuesday night, today.

The three brothers, believed to be relatives of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, were released at Rangareddy district's Narsingi by the kidnappers, who fled from the place afterwards.

The family alleged that former Andhra Pradesh tourism minister Bhuma Akhila Priya and her husband Bhargav were behind the kidnapping.

Speaking on the matter, the officials of the city police told the media that a group of unidentified people forced themselves in to the Rao residence on Tuesday night claiming to be income tax officers who had a warrant to conduct a raid at the house.

The assailants then locked up the family members in different rooms of the house, before forcing the three brothers into three different cars.

The trio was then driven towards Moinabad. During the course of the drive, the kidnappers coerced the victims into signing some property-related documents.

It was only in the wee hours of the day today that the police was able to rescue the three brothers. They are now home safely.

The police were reportedly able to apprehend around 10 persons involved in the kidnapping, and seize the vehicles used for the act. Further, they ascertained that the kidnapping was in all likelihood related to a dispute over a property, linked to the Miyapur land scam, that is located in Hafeezpet near Hi-tech city.

Bowenpally Inspector K Ravi Kumar said that a case had been registered under IPC sections 448, 419, 341, 342, 506 and 366 r/w 149.