A local court today sentenced to life imprisonment a police constable, arrested in connection with a vain bid to kidnap Aurobindo Pharma vice-chairman K Nityananda Reddy here last year and for extorting Rs 10 lakh as ransom in another abduction case.
Metropolitan sessions judge P Rajini convicted P Obulesu, who had earlier worked with the anti-Naxal Greyhounds force and later with Hyderabad Police, and handed him life term in both the cases.
Obulesu was arrested in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in November after he tried to kidnap Reddy for ransom while wielding an AK-47 rifle.
The incident occurred on November 19 when Reddy got into his car after morning walk at Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Park here.
Obulesu had indiscriminately fired around 20 bullets near the park but failed to abduct Reddy. He also managed to escape from the spot by leaving behind the weapon.
Banjara Hills Police had registered a case on the charge of attempt to murder and other relevant sections of IPC and Arms Act against Obulesu.
During the investigation, Obulesu confessed that he had kidnapped Kaki Sirish and extorted Rs 10 lakh from him in February 2014.
It was revealed during the probe that the constable had stolen the AK-47 from Grey Hounds Unit in December 2013 and hid it in deep forest near Nandyal in Kurnool district.
"At the time of both the offences, he brought the weapon from the forest and committed offences," stated a release from Hyderabad Police.
The seizure of the weapon, the CCTV footage and gathering of the scientific evidence proved crucial in the case, the release stated, adding that a test identification parade was also conducted and charge sheet was filed.
A total of 38 witnesses were examined during the trial besides documents and FSL reports.
