Mystery behind kidnap of Vizag MP’s family raises heat

Visakhapatnam: Even after 10 days have elapsed after kidnappers kept Visakhapatnam MP M V V Satyanarayana family members and his auditor G Venkateswara Rao (GV) as hostage, the reason for the sensational incident still baffle many.

The issue is raging into a controversy with the Opposition terming it as break down of the law and order machinery in the State as the MP’s family itself does not have protection and Satyanarayana, a prominent builder and film producer, declaring that he will shift his business to Hyderabad while continuing politics in Visakhapatnam.

TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu took potshots at the ruling YSRCP over the kidnapping and capturing of MP’s wife and son Sarat along with their family friend and noted auditor GV, as hostage at their newly built house at Rushikonda for two days. On the other hand, the MP at a press conference held on Wednesday found fault with the Opposition for politicising the issue and claimed that it was a kidnap for extortion by the rowdy-sheeters led by one K V Hemanth Kumar, a murder accused who was involved in kidnap of several realtors.

The MP said the incident has neither any connection to politics nor to land deals and blamed the Opposition for trying to portray it as a law and order problem. All the four hooligans, who were involved in the incident, have been arrested. The city police have registered a case of abduction and ransom and are investigating from various angles. They have not yet cracked the mystery surrounding the case.

Ironically, the MP’s new house did not have CCTV footage. No servants or security personnel were also present when the kidnappers gained entry into the house. The kidnappers first sneaked into the house when Sarat was present alone. Later they summoned the MP’s wife, who used to stay in their house at Lawsons Bay Colony-which was about 10 km from Rushikonda. In the process of negotiations, GV was asked to rush to Rushikonda house.

The MP, who was in Hyderabad when the incident came to light, said he never suspected that his family members had been held hostage by the kidnappers. “I suspected something fishy when GV, a close friend of mine, did not answer my calls despite my repeated attempts,” he said. GV has close connections in the ruling party and had also served as the chairman of Visakhapatnam Smart City Corporation before the post was repealed following objections from the Government of India.

The MP reported his suspicion on possible kidnap from Hyderabad on phone to Commissioner of Police C M Trivikram Varma and hours later they swung into action by rescuing unharmed while being taken in an SUV owned by Satyanarayana’s family by the kidnappers from Rushikonda towards Eluru Road.

“I suspect there is a larger conspiracy. Maybe it is related to some land settlement. We need to look into the cell phone data of all the persons involved in the episode,” BJP State vice-president N Vishnukumar Raju, said and demanded a CBI or NIA probe.

“How the kidnappers turned the MP’s house into a den to hold talks for a settlement for two days without raising any suspicion,” he said while heaving a sigh of relief over release of all the three kidnapped persons safely.

Some Opposition party leaders also wondered why an official of the Registration Department was summoned to the MP’s house when talks were going on between the hostages and the kidnappers.

Jana Sena Party corporator Peethala Murthy Yadav said the MP’s behaviour was controversial even before his entry in politics as he was involved in several shady land deals. He said either CBI or ED should probe into the entire incident to bring the truth to the light.