VSP official killed in Bhubaneswar for ransom
BHUBANESWAR: Four persons were arrested for the murder of I Surya Prasad Rao, Assistant General Manager (AGM) of Vizag Steel Plant (VSP), on January 4. The motive behind the murder was extortion.
Guruji, alias Piddina Laxman Rao (50) of Gunna Palam in Srikakulam, a kingpin of an extortion racket, had allegedly killed the VSP employee for ransom. Guruji's associates Srinibas Panda alias Nibas (40) of Begunia, Manoj Rout alias Luna (31)of Nandankanan and Kulamani Rout (37) of Rajnagar in Kendrapara were also arrested.
Surya Prasad Rao was invited to Bhubaneswar by Guruji on the pretext of a wedding proposal for Rao's younger son. Guruji is the kingpin of the inter-State racket which collects data about people seeking information on property, vehicle rates and matrimony in Eastern India and extorts money after trapping them, police sources said.
'Guruji had an expertise in trapping parents looking for prospective brides. It was in lieu of a marriage proposal for his younger son that Rao was trapped and killed,' Police Commissioner R P Sharma said.
Rao came to Bhubaneswar in the first week of the New Year for the marriage proposal of his son. The VSP official arrived at the city airport on January 4 noon and went to a guest house at Patia. Guruji had convinced Rao that the vehicle he had boarded and the guest house he will check in belonged to a person named Koteswar Rao, a millionaire.
On reaching the guest house, Guruji immediately took Rao hostage and demanded a ransom of `5 crore. Rao conveyed to his son over phone that his abductors were demanding the ransom for his release.
On realising that Rao did not carry enough cash, his abductors forced him to withdraw `1.27 lakh from his ATM. Rao was then assaulted leading to his death. After killing Rao, Guruji and his associates carried his body in a car and dumped it at a secluded place.
News Posted: 11 January, 2015
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