BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: The notorious Dhal Samanta brothers on Friday found themselves in more trouble after Cuttack Police slapped fresh charges against them for possession of counterfeit currencies. At least 22 currency notes, amounting to Rs 12,000 were detected during verification.
The cash seized from their CDA house on January 28 raid was verified before being deposited with the Government treasury. During verification by bank officials, it was found that 22 currency notes were fake. Cuttack DCP Sanjeev Arora said basing on the evidence, police have slapped fresh charges against them.
He said Cuttack Police has also arrested one Artatrana Bhuyan and served notice on Bijay Kumar Pal for their role in tender fixing and extortion. “We have been keeping a tab on people who carried out hit jobs on behalf of the brother duo. People involved in extortion and fixing of sand quarry tenders are under our radar and basing on evidence, we arrested Bhyuan,” Arora said.
The 40-year-old Bhuyan of Nuapada under Madhupatna police station came under raids on Friday. During the raid, the police team found Rs 6.27 lakh from his possession. Bhuyan could not give any account of the money, Arora said.
Police also seized documents on bali ghat (sand quarry) at Trisulia and Ostia such as registers in the name of Pal. Similarly, a money donation receipt in the name of Cuttack Nagar Yubak Sangha by Pal was also recovered.
The Cuttack DCP said Bhyuan and Pal were found involved in tender fixing and extortion of ‘bali ghat’ lease holders in connivance with Sushant and Sushil. The duo was interrogated on Thursday and basing on evidence, Bhyuan was formally arrested and produced before the court while Pal has been served a notice under Section 41(a) of the CrPC as his health condition is stated to be critical.
Police Commissioner Yogesh Bahadur Khurania also reviewed progress of the investigation and took stock of the list of associates who are under police scanner. He also directed Cuttack Police to examine the chargesheet submitted in the Md Farooq murder case so that it can look into the allegations of the Dhal Samanta brothers’ role.
Meanwhile, the hearing on police petition to handcuff the gangster brothers has been posted to February 22 by the Orissa High Court.