Hyderabad: Former Partner Kidnaps Businessman and His Aide, Arrested

Hyderabad: A group of men, posing as SOT police officers, kidnapped Sai Gupta, 30, the managing director of Kickstart company, and his sales coordinator Satish Reddy, around 8 pm on Friday. The kidnapping was hatched by Gautam Bhaviri Shetty, a former business partner of Sai Gupta. Both had financial disputes stemming from their previous partnership in a finance business.

According to police, the incident occurred near DLF in Gachibowli. When the two were driving home, their car was hit from behind by the kidnappers' vehicles. Claiming to be SOT police, the kidnappers forced the victims into one of their vehicles and drove them to an isolated place in Jagathgirigutta. There, the kidnappers assaulted Sai and Satish till 1 am and demanded `four crore in ransom from their families, said inspector Sripathi Anjaneyulu.

Later, the victims were taken to another deserted location in Vikarabad, where they were attacked with knives and sticks, he said.

On Saturday, family members of the victims approached Gachibowli police for help. On realising that their movements were being monitored by the police, the kidnappers forced Sai and Satish to sign on blank bonds before releasing them in Vikarabad and fled the scene.

On their release, the victims said that Gautam Shetty, along with 13 others, including rowdy sheeter Prashant, were involved in the kidnapping.

Currently, Shetty and Ashok are in police custody, while the other suspects remain at large. Investigation is underway, said police.