Constable Arrested For Attempt To Loot Rs 30 Lakh In Odisha’s Gajapati

Paralakhemundi: Two persons including a police constable have been arrested for their alleged involvement in an attempt to loot Rs 30 lakh in Odisha’s Gajapati district.

Speaking to media persons about the case on Sunday, Paralakhemundi SDPO Madhabananda Nayak said Rabindranath of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh had lodged a complaint at Paralakhemundi Town police about the loot attempt on January 25.

Rabindranath stated that Rajesh of Saluru in his state had informed him about a person of Paralakhemundi offering Rs 60 lakh of Rs 2000 denomination notes in exchange of Rs 30 lakh of Rs 500 notes. When he contacted the persons, Rabindranath was told to come with money to a place in Gajapati district along with Rajesh.

As per the deal, Rabindranath and Rajesh went in a car to Kerandi village on January 25 evening. From there, they went walking inside a forest area where Rajesh tried to snatch the money bag from Rabindranath.

However, some youths, who were playing nearby, came to rescue of Rabindranath. They nabbed Rajesh and informed the police. A team from Paralakhemundi Town police station went to the place and arrested Rajesh. They also recovered the money bag from his possession.

The SPO said during investigation, police came to know that Constable Tanuj Kumar Sabat, who is also the president of Gajapati District Constable Association, was involved in the crime. Sabat has accompanied the police team to the place. He had also taken the mobile phone of Rajesh and given it to another person.

Later, the police recovered the mobile phone and brought the constable under investigation purview. Following inquiry, Tanuj was suspended from the service.

The SDPO said Tanuj was arrested on Saturday and forwarded to a local court on Sunday.