A businessman from the One Town area M. Jagganadh Rao (62), who was reportedly kidnapped on Monday morning, was traced by the police late on Tuesday night on the Beach Road near Palm Beach Hotel.
Based on cell tower signal, the police found Mr. Jagganadh Rao in a semi-conscious state.
Police said that Mr. Jagganadh Rao had left home at about 10 a.m. He wanted to go Daspalla Hills to pay chit fund subion of a friend.
As per the statement given by Mr. Jagganadh Rao, he boarded an autorickshaw near Kotha Road in the Old Town area. There were two other persons in the autorickshaw at that time.
It was learnt that the co-passengers welcomed him and made him sit in between them, as he was a senior citizen. Thereafter, he lost consciousness.
The police believe that the accused would have used some kind of a spray to make him lose consciousness.
In the evening, the kidnappers gave Mr. Jagganadh Rao a drink and a dosa to eat. It was during this time he reportedly gave the cellphone number of his son to the kidnappers. After eating, he again fell asleep.
According to the police, the kidnappers called his son Srinivas Rao and demanded a ransom of Rs.10 lakh for his release.
“But later, the kidnappers appeared to have changed their minds and dropped Mr. Jagganadh Rao on the Beach Road near Palm Beach Hotel,” said One Town SHO Ilyas Mohammed.
“Mr. Jagganadh Rao is still under shock and is unable to give clear details,” he said. Investigation is on.