Extortion case filed against director Teja’s son Amitov
HYDERABAD: Acting on the directions of a local court, Jubilee Hills police have registered a case against five persons, including film director Dharma Teja’s son Amitov Teja, for allegedly coercing and extorting a stock trader.
The case was registered on Wednesday following an order of the XVII additional chief metropolitan magistrate, based on a petition filed by K Praneeth, 35, a resident of Moti Nagar, a few months ago. Praneeth levelled multiple allegations against Amitov Teja and others in connection with stock trading losses and alleged intimidation.
Allegations linked to stock trading losses
According to the complaint, Praneeth came into contact with businessman Amitov Teja in April 2025 while processing a credit card application. Teja allegedly asked Praneeth to operate the demat account of his mother, Srivalli Teja, promising to share one-time passwords remotely.
Praneeth alleged that trading carried out on Teja’s instructions resulted in a loss of ₹11 lakh. He claimed that despite his reluctance after the loss, Teja persuaded him to continue trading, sharing OTPs to recover the amount.
Claim of coercion and threats
The complainant further alleged that on May 24, 2025, Teja’s associates — Manikumar, Ch Ramnath Reddy and A Laxmikanth Reddy — forcibly took him to Teja’s residence, compelled him to sign blank cheques, promissory notes and stamp papers, and threatened him.
Praneeth also alleged that his wife was later made to sign documents purportedly showing the sale of their flat, and that the couple were warned that their daughter would be harmed if they resisted.
Based on the court’s directions, police booked a case against Amitov Teja, Srivalli Teja, Manikumar, Ramnath Reddy and Laxmikanth Reddy under Sections 111, 125, 127(1), 130, 135, 136, 308, 322, 324(1), 335 and 351(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Counter case also under investigation
Earlier, on January 12, Jubilee Hills police had registered a separate case against Praneeth and his wife Anusha, based on a complaint by Amitov Teja. In that case, Teja alleged that the couple cheated him of ₹72 lakh by fabricating trading profits and later backing out of a compensation agreement involving a flat.
Police said both cases are currently under investigation.
