Hyderabad, Aug 23 : The driver of Telanganaâ??s Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekhaâ??s former OSD, N. Sumanth, was arrested on Sunday in a case of alleged assault on a real estate businessman.

The driver was arrested near Sumanthâ??s residence in Tellapur on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Sumanth and five others were booked following a complaint filed by the realtor, who alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and that the accused demanded Rs 10 crore from him.

An attempt to murder case was registered against the former OSD and five others.

A zero FIR was registered against N. Sumanth and five others at Medipally Police Station of Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate last week.

Later, the case was transferred to Jubilee Hills Police Station of Hyderabad Commissionerate.

Gongidi Harikrishna, a resident of Boduppal, lodged a complaint. Harikrishna alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and sticks and threatened with dire consequences.

The case was registered against former OSD Sumanth, Ramu, Prashanth, Arun Kumar Reddy, Karthik and Mahender Reddy under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The complainant said Sumanth and others assaulted him on July 30.

Harikrishna stated that Sumanth asked him to meet at Ramuâ??s office. Sumanth allegedly abused him and hit him with an iron rod. On Sumanthâ??s direction, others also joined the assault.

The complainant claimed that he sustained a fracture to his left hand, bleeding injuries and other injuries and that he underwent surgery on August 10.

The case was registered amid a controversy involving Minister Konda Surekhaâ??s family.

Her daughter Konda Sushmithaâ??s recent remarks against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy triggered a storm in the ruling Congress party.

At her motherâ??s birthday celebrations in Warangal district, Sushmita declared that she would contest from Parkala Assembly constituency in the next elections even if she was denied a party ticket. She also made allegations of corruption against the Chief Ministerâ??s family.

Taking serious note of the allegations, the disciplinary committee of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) issued a show-cause notice to the minister.

Surekha distanced herself from her daughterâ??s remarks, saying the latter expressed her personal views.

Congress MP and party disciplinary committee chairman Mallu Ravi said on Saturday that the committee had examined the explanation given by the minister and videos of remarks made by her daughter, but had not taken any decision on the matter yet.

Ravi said the panel had discussed several issues at length and examined complaints received from party leaders.

/IANS