Youth Congress leader who stage-managed firing arrested

Police on Thursday arrested Youth Congress leader M. Vikram Goud, who was injured in a firing stage-managed by him here last week.

Police took him into custody after he was discharged from Apollo Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment since July 28.

He was arrested as he came out of the hospital on a wheelchair and shifted to a police vehicle. He was later taken to the Nampally Criminal Court complex to face a magistrate.

Vikram is the son of former Andhra Pradesh minister and Congress leader M. Mukesh Goud.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy had on Wednesday announced that Vikram was under police surveillance and would be arrested once he was discharged.

Vikram was injured in firing at his house in upscale Banjara Hills on July 28. He had told police that two assailants came on a bike and escaped after firing at him. The police investigation, however, revealed that the attack was stage managed.

The police cracked the case with the arrest of five persons while two accused are absconding.

Vikram, who also produced a few Telugu movies and had investments in various businesses, offered Rs 50 lakh to a gang to shoot him so that he could gain public sympathy in an assembly constituency from where he plans to contest the 2019 election.

He also wanted to use the incident to avoid repaying loans to some businessmen.

Goud, 35, has been booked for abetment to commit crime, criminal conspiracy, causing disappearance of evidence, giving false information to police and for possessing and using illegal firearm.

--IANS

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