Paralakhemundi: A Constable in Odisha Police was arrested for his alleged involvement in a Rs 30 lakh robbery conspiracy in Paralakhemundi area in Gajapati district.
Constable Tanuj Kumar Sabat, who is the President of Gajapati District Constable Association, was suspended from his service after a case was registered on January 25. He was booked under sections 120-B/394 of IPC.
One more person identified as Rajesh from Saluru area in Andhra Pradesh was arrested in connection with the robbery case.
According to reports, the Paralakhemundi Town police received information that one person was allegedly snatching a bag containing cash from someone near Kerandi village on January 25 evening.
Acting promptly, the police reached the spot and initiated a probe based on a complaint lodged by one Ravindranath, a resident of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
As per the complaint, Rajesh was trying to snatch Rs 30 lakh from the complainant Ravindranath, who had visited an isolated place near Kerandi village as per conversation with a person who allured him of giving Rs 60 lakh of Rs 2000 denomination notes in exchange of Rs 30 lakh of Rs 500 denomination notes.
Ravindranath was in a contact with a person from Paralakhemundi, who was said to be the boss in the racket, to get Rs 60 lakh in exchange of Rs 30 lakh. As per the deal, he along with Rajesh visited the isolated place in a car. After reaching there Rajesh took Ravindranath inside the forest and tried to loot Rs 30 lakh from him, informed Paralakhemundi SDPO Madhabananda Nayak today.
During the loot bid, some youngsters, who were playing Volleyball nearby, caught the accused with the cash bag and informed the police, he said.
In the course of investigation, police came to know that Constable Tanuj Kumar Sabat was also involved in the crime.
Constable Tanuj Kumar Sabat had also reached the place during the snatching attempt. He took the mobile phone of the accused and handed over the device to one of the accused persons involved in the crime in Paralakhemundi, the senior police official said.
“Based on CCTV footage, we seized the mobile phone and brought the Constable under investigation purview. Following the inquiry, Tanuj was suspended from the service and arrested yesterday. He was forwarded to a local court today. The entire investigation was conducted under the supervision of SP,” he said.
