Three held over extortion attempt

Hyderabad: The Saroornagar police on Friday arrested three accused, namely, B Laxman (35), M Raghuma Reddy (36) and P Nagaraju (30), for attempting extortion and indulging in criminal intimidation.

According to police, they received a complaint from the complainant, G Srinivas, a Consultant Audiologist, stating that he used to arrange hearing machines to the patients in Apollo Hospital in Jubilee Hills.

He was arranging the machines of companies other than Apollo. Sensing an opportunity to make quick money, accused Laxman and Nagaraju colluded with each other and demanded money of Rs 15 lakh from the complainant for keeping mum on the matter. Demanding the amount, they threatened to inform the Apollo Hospital management, Income Tax department and spoil his career.

Later, the accused Nagaraju, who is a reporter in a Telugu daily, threatened the complainant to provide money to other two accused, warning that if he failed to do so, the issue would be published in his newspaper. Based on the complaint of Srinivas, police registered a case under Section 384 r/w 511, 506 IPC.