BENGALURU: Cool demeanour helped a 55-year-old city-based businessman stave off an alleged extortion bid and threat to his family members and led to the arrest of the ‘extortionist’ and the man who hired him.The man was hired by a Vijayawada-based businessman, who had jointly invested in land with the city businessman.
It was on December 5 afternoon when Vijay Krishna, Managing Director of a group of educational institutions, was watching television at his Sadashivnagar residence that the drama unfolded, according to the FIR filed at Sadashivnagar police station.
While engrossed in watching TV he suddenly felt cold metal on his neck. On turning around, he saw a stranger holding a machete to his neck. Not panicking, Krishna asked him why he was there. The stranger then pulled out a gun and, pointing it at him, told him that he had been paid `1 crore as ‘supari’ to kill him and his family members. At some point, the extortionist -- identified as ‘Gold’ Vijay -- presented a counter-offer: That Krishna pay him Rs 10 crore to save himself and his family members, says the FIR. Having said that, ‘Gold’ Vijay issued a threat and left Krishna’s residence without harming anyone. Krishna watched him leave with his 10-12 accomplices who had come in a car and on two motorcycles.
Around 8.45 pm that day, Krishna complained to the Sadashivnagar police about the incident. The police managed to get footage of the man from a CCTV camera in the vicinity, and arrested ‘Gold’ Vijay on Sunday. Vijay had earned the nickname due to his fondness for wearing gold ornaments.
Though the FIR says it was a ‘supari’ killing bid, the police said that ‘Gold’ Vijay confessed that Chidambaram Reddy, Vijayawada businessman, had promised to pay him if he carried out the extortion. Reddy was arrested from a lodge in Majestic.A police official said Krishna and Reddy had invested in 30 acres of land in Yelahanka and they had disagreements.
Hyderabad man under scanner
A Hyderabad-based businessman, Gangadhar, had also invested in the land along with Krishna and Reddy. And so, Krishna suspected Gangadhar’s hand too in the extortion attempt. Police have questioned Gangadhar.