BENGALURU, June 3 -- A former member of the Karnataka Legislative Council was allegedly abducted by an armed group on the outskirts of Bengaluru in the early hours of Tuesday and released several hours later after negotiations over a ransom demand, according to a police complaint.

Dayananda Reddy, 63, told police that he was returning home with his driver after visiting the Gold Coin Club when their vehicle was stopped near Huskur in Anekal taluk at about 12.15 am.

According to the complaint, men arriving on a motorcycle approached the vehicle and informed Reddy that a gift had been delivered for him. One of them displayed a cotton box and, when Reddy opened the car door, allegedly entered the vehicle, brandished a firearm and instructe...