Gangster Tito link: CB Detains Businessman After Raids

Jagatsinghpur: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch on Sunday detained businessman Dipti Dash following raids on his houses and establishments in Jagatsingpur district and Odisha capital, while probing his alleged links with gangster Syed Usman Ali alias Tito.

An eight-member STF team carried out the search operation at the businessman house and recovered a pistol, 12 rounds of bullets, cash to the tune of Rs 62, 250 and some important documents, including bank passbooks.

Besides, raids were also conducted on two guest houses and a shop selling glass and ply belonging to Dash in Jagatsinghpur.

The team also searched his flat at Patia in Bhubaneswar and seized some documents and papers.

“Following the raids, Dash has been detained for interrogation. Further action will be taken after extracting more information from him. A luxurious car belonging to the detainee has also been seized,” a Crime Branch official informed.

The STF had on Wednesday raided a motorcycle showroom in Kendrapara district to investigate the alleged criminal and financial links of Tito.

The raid in Pattamundai area of the district was conducted to ascertain whether the gangster had invested money in the showroom.

The showroom was earlier seized by CB officials along with a furniture showroom, belonging to Tito’s relatives at Marsaghai.

On August 24, a team of STF had interrogated two engineers for their alleged links with Tito.

According to sources, Rural Development Department executive engineer Nalinikant Senapati and Lift Irrigation Department executive engineer Bidyabhusan Nayak were questioned at Kendrapara SDPO’s office for financial links with the gangster.

The STF had on August 23 unearthed Tito’s involvement in illegal cattle transportation by arresting one of his associates.

The accused, identified as Batu Pani, operating the gangster’s cattle transportation network in Odisha and outside, was nabbed by a team of STF from Kalinga Vihar.

A pistol and four vehicles, including an expensive motorcycle, were seized from his possession.