In a shocking development that has shocked Karnataka’s political scene, former Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) member Dayananda Reddy was kidnapped by armed men on the outskirts of Bangalore in a recent incident. The abductors threatened him with death and demanded a ransom of Rs 3 crore before eventually releasing him.
According to Dayananda Reddy’s complaint, the incident occurred just after he left the Gold Coin Club around 12:15 am. Reddy was driving in his car when a group of unknown men on a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle. The men had said that they were there to give him a gift and showed him a cotton box, according to Reddy’s complaint.
As soon as Reddy unlocked the car door, one of the accused allegedly forced his way into the vehicle. He approached Reddy with a gun and instructed the former legislator to drive in the direction suggested by the gang. Meanwhile, two men in a red-coloured car were following Reddy and, in doing so, he was unable to escape.
The abductors took him to a site near the KHB Colony in Attibele. There, the gang allegedly threatened him with serious consequences and tried to extort a huge amount of money. The complaint said the kidnappers held a gun against Reddy’s neck and claimed that a contract worth Rs 10 crore had been given to them to eliminate him.
The threat seemed to alarm the former MLC. Reddy pleaded with the abductors not to kill him and said he would pay money. The gang initially demanded Rs 3 crore as ransom. During the conversation, the amount was reduced to Rs 2 crore after negotiations between the victim and the accused.
But Reddy told the kidnappers that he had no immediate access to such a large amount of money during the night. He asked for more time, saying that banks were closed and he would only be able to get the money if they opened the next morning. The kidnappers agreed to release him temporarily, he said.
Before letting him go, the accused told him to withdraw the money and contact them once the amount was ready. Reddy immediately went to the Attibele Police Station and filed a complaint about the whole sequence of events.
Police have since registered a case and launched an extensive investigation. CCTV footage from the areas where the victim was taken and technical evidence is being collected to find the suspects. Investigators are also trying to trace the motorcycle and red car used in the crime.
The kidnapping was bold, and the victim is a former member of the Karnataka Legislative Council. Police officials said every effort is being taken to find and arrest the suspects.
Further details are expected to emerge as police continue to investigate whether the kidnapping was just an extortion attempt or if there were other motives behind the crime.
