Hyderabad: Journalist hurt in robbery bid

Hyderabad: A servant and his associate were arrested by Rajendranagar police for robbery and attempt to murder the employer, a senior journalist, on Tuesday at Budwel. 

The arrested man Patla Nagaraju, 28, is the servant and a milk vendor, and Kodige Mallesh, 35, a labourer. Both are residents of Budwel in Rajendranagar. Naga-raju had been working as a servant at V. Shivarama Krishna’s place and also stays with him. Shivarama Krishna is an ex-employee of TV5, TV9 and other TV channels.

“Nagaraju found that his owner had cash and valuables. He discussed it with Mallesh with whom he came in contact with around three months back. Mallesh agreed to kill the man for Rs 1 lakh. Ever since, the duo had been observing Shivarama Krishna,” said Cyberabad police commissioner Sandeep Shandilya. 

“On Monday night the two met and consumed alcohol at around 9 pm and Nagaraju went to sleep at the senior journalist’s place. Around 11:40 pm Mallesh entered the house with a spade and hid it in back of the house. 

At 2 am, Nagaraju switched off the power supply to the house, which was the cue for Mallesh to attack. Shivarama Krishna came out of his bedroom to ask Nagaraju about the power cut and Mallesh hit him on the head and robbed him before escaping. Nagaraju also left the house pretending to be startled and scared,” added Mr Shandilya.  

The two fled with two gold chains weighing about 3.5 tolas, two gold rings weighing around one tola, a silver ring weighing about one tola, a smart phone, three SBH cheques of Rs 4.5 lakh, two blank cheques, two pass books of ICICI Bank and an ATM card. 

Based on a complaint from the victim, police booked a case and started an investigation. 

As the investigation was in progress Nagaraju was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon from his house for questioning and he confessed to the offence. He then escorted the cops to Mallesh’s residence who was leaving to sell the gold and silver ornaments. Police recovered the stolen goods along with the spade which was used in the offence from him. 

The two were sent to judicial custody.