Student held for threat calls to Minister

HYDERABAD: Police on Sunday arrested two persons including an engineering student who tried to extort Rs 4 crore from law minister Erasu Pratap Reddy. A special team, comprising senior police officials, arrested the duo from their residences in Vadlaramapuram village, Atmakur mandal in Kurnool district.According to police, the two accused made threatening calls to the minister on May 9 and 10 from their village and demanded Rs 4 crore from him. Else, they threatened to kill him.The accused are Rajesh (25), an engineering final year student and his friend Siva (29). The duo are being brought to the city and would be produced before the magistrate on Monday. ACP, Punjagutta division, Venkata Narasaiah said that the minister lodged a complaint with the Panjagutta police a few days ago stating that he has been receiving threat calls from unidentified people. Based on the complaint, Panjagutta police registered a case and a special team comprising Panjagutta and Task Force sleuths was formed to probe the case. The ACP said they demanded money from the minister for leading a lavish life.