Former Andhra Pradesh tourism minister Bhuma Akhila Priya was arrested and police are on the hunt for 10 more accused in the sensational kidnapping of a hockey player and two of his relatives in Hyderabad. Praveen Rao, Sunil Rao and Naveen Rao—who are said to be close to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao—were kidnapped and later released in a dramatic manner.
Hyderabad police commissioner Anjan Kumar said, “15 teams were formed to investigate the kidnapping case and CCTV footage was also retrieved. Three are accused. A.V. Subba Reddy is A1, ex-minister Bhuma Akhila Priya (A2) and Bharghav Ram is A3. Akihla Priya was arrested. They kidnapped them at around 8 pm and due to police chase, the criminals were left with no option. Around 3.30 am, they released those kidnapped at Narsingi, Kokapet (on the outskirts of Hyderabad).”
The sequence of events that led to the rescue is no less than a cinematic scene. At around 7.20 pm, 10-15 men posing as Income tax officials trespassed into the house of law student Katakaneni Manish (22) at Manovikasnagar in Secunderabad. One among them was wearing a police uniform holding a stick with a plea of conducting raids. They began searching the premise. Manish’s family was showed a search warrant (fake) in the name of three brothers Praveen, Naveen and Sunil Rao (paternal uncles of Manish). The family was confined to a hall and few others in the bedroom, restricting their movement. Twenty minutes later, Manish’s aunty Sarita (spouse to Sunil) who happens to be their neighbour came to their rescue. She opened the door which allowed the house mates to venture out.
By then the men took the three uncles Praveen, Naveen and Sunil in three different cars and zoomed away. The lid blew off when Manish found that the men were not government officials but kidnappers. The family dialled 100 at 8.10 pm.
Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Anjani Kumar said, “The kidnap is suspected to be in connection with a land dispute. In September 2020, Praveen Rao filed a complaint against A.V. Subba Reddy in a land issue which culminated in the kidnap. During questioning, it was found that Bhuma Akhila Priya and husband Ram are involved. Former minister Akhil Priya was arrested at her residence in Hyderabad and brought to the police station. She has been placed under medical examination at Gandhi Hospital. We are also verifying the involvement of Srinivas Chowdhary alia Guntur Srinu, Prakash, Sai, Chanti and others.”
Praveen Rao purchased 25 acres in Hafeezpet of Hyderabad in 2016 with the help of mediator A.V. Subba Reddy who took assistance of late Bhuma Nagi Reddy (father of Akhila Priya). However, trouble brew when Subba Reddy and Bhuma Nagi Reddy did not come to terms. After the TDP leader’s demise, his daughters Akhila Priya approached Praveen Rao for a share. But when Praveen refused citing that the process of transaction has been completed, lawfully, she began threatening him, cops said.
Praveen Rao represented combined Andhra Pradesh at national level in the game of hockey. He is said to be a relative of Telangana Chief Minister KCR.