I've never had this problem, but I have had (and may have now) the "L" shaped spring for the takedown lever break...Can you see if both ends are still in the frame??? If not, part of it may be jammed...
I'd say that drilling the damaged lever out may be your best bet...If the checkered part is broken off, and the sideplate is removed, then you should be able to drift the rectangular tang of the takedown lever forward into the hole you've drilled and get the pieces out that way...
I'd recommend a machinist with access to a milling machine...This is not something I'd do on a drill press...and definitely not with hand tools...
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