The Hyderabad City Police arrested the car driver for masterminding the kidnap of his master and Satyam Computer general manager Vedula Satyanarayana for ransom.
Announcing this at a press conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday evening, City Commissioner of Police Balwinder Singh said, "...during the course of investigation of the kidnap case, clues were gathered and it was established that car driver V Mohan and his associate Kathi Venkanna committed this offence along with their other associates from Warangal district."
The Commissioner said, "The motive behind kidnapping was ransom. The other accused posed as naxalites (Maoists) while whisking away Satyanarayana."
Satyanarayana, who was also present at the media conference, recalled the incident. He said, "The gang members blindfolded me and drove me away in a car."
They threatened to kill me if a ransom of Rs 20 lakh (two million) was not paid."
"They lodged me in a dark room. They also had weapons. I dealt with them gently and sent SMS messages to my wife, informing about their demand," he recalled.
After the police swung into action, the kidnappers left him at a railway station where he boarded a Hyderabad-bound train and reached the city today.
The Commissioner said that soon after Satyanarayana's wife Kiranmayee Vedula lodged a complaint with the police 10 am on Tuesday, rescue and search operations were immediately launched at various hide-outs of the gang.
"Due to the continued pressure, Satyanarayana was released safely by the kidnappers, without the payment of any ransom. Two persons have been arrested- car driver Mohan and Kongara David, who provided shelter to kidnappers at Nekkonda village in Warangal district," Balwinder Singh added.
"Further operations are continuing to identify and apprehend the other gang members," he said and pointed out that 8 to 10 persons were involved in the entire episode. Venkanna, another key accused, and driver Mohan hailed from Gudur village in Warangal district.
Mohan had been working as driver for Satyanarayana for the last three years. He planned the kidnap as he was aware of the "wealth" of his master.
It may be recalled that Satyanarayana (40) left the house in East Marredpally at 8.30 am on Tuesday to drop his two daughters at Geetanjali Devashray School near Sangeet theatre in Secunderabad. He went inside the school and the driver parked the vehicle outside the school premises.
When Satyanarayana did not return home at the normal time, his wife Kiranmayee inquired with the driver who informed her that he was missing. Later, when contacted, Satyanarayana told his wife that he had been kidnapped by some unknown persons.
Based on her complaint at Gopalpuram police station, the police registered a case under section 363 Indian Penal Code and took up investigation.