Utnoor police on Monday booked a case of kidnap against former Asifabad MLA Kova Laxmi and four others for kidnapping one Madavi Chandrakala and her husband Sheku, belonging to Gowri Gondguda in Jainoor mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, on May 5. Complainant Chandrakala, who was BJP ZPTC candidate from Jainoor, alleged that she and her husband were kidnapped and threatened with dire consequences by Ms Laxmi, TRS ZPTC candidate from the same constituency, to withdraw her nomination, which she did under duress.

‘Beaten up’

Ms. Chandrakala said that she was accosted and abused and her husband beaten up by Sk Kareem, teacher Anam Devender, Madavi Bheem Rao and an unnamed vehicle driver from Jainoor mandal. Even as they started scaring her near Perkaguda, at 2 p.m., the former MLA arrived in her vehicle and whisked them away to Asifabad. Cases under IPC sections 294 (b), 323, 365 and 506 were booked against all the accused. A case under relevant section of the SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities was also booked against Kareem.