KENDRAPARA: Notorious gangster Sk Usman Ali alias Tito was sent back to prison after his 12-day long Crime Branch (CB) remand ended on Monday. He was produced in the court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) here on Monday amid tight security and later sent to the sub-jail at Barimula on the outskirts of Kendrapara town. Talking to media persons on the court premises, Tito said, “I am innocent. Some influential people have hatched a conspiracy against me. I am a victim of their plot.” The SDJM court at Kendrapara on Friday had extended the gangster’s remand for three days. SDJM Nihar Ranjan Sahoo had earlier remanded Tito to police custody for five days from July 4 and four days from July 9.
SP, Crime Branch, PK Bhoi said CB investigation has proved beyond doubt that Tito was involved in several crimes and has amassed wealth through inappropriate means in Kendrapara, Paradip and other parts of the country. “During the 12-day interrogation, Tito was confronted with many incriminating document which police had seized from his houses and business establishments in Kendrapara and Paradip,” he said.
Bhoi said CB has formed a special team to arrest all five brothers and close associates of the gangster. They had managed to flee from their hideouts in Kendrapara town after the arrest of Tito following an encounter with the police on June 30. Meanwhile, CB on Monday detected an under-construction four-storey building at Ichapur in Kendrapara town. During probe, it was found that the building and the rice mill are Benami property owned by Tito, said police sources.