Bargarh: In a major embarrassment for Odisha police, three constables of Bargarh district were arrested Tuesday for allegedly extorting Rs 4.51 lakh from a businessman.
The arrested constables have been identified as Sadananda Pradhan, Saroj Seth and Bipin Bihari Bedbak. An accomplice of the trio, Jay Prakash Gupta was also arrested in this connection. The extorted amount has been seized from the accused and returned to the businessman.
According to reports, businessman identified as Nandalal Prasad of Paikmal was on his way to Sambalpur in a bus August 26 night when the constables intercepted the vehicle and picked him up from the bus at Bhatli.
The cops took him to the Sadar police station for questioning and later allegedly took away the cash from his possession. Acting on a complaint lodged by Nandalal, police investigated into the incident and arrested the four accused.
Informing about the arrests, Bargarh Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo said Jay Prakash had an enmity with Nandalal. On the fateful day, Jay Prakash told a constable of Sadar police station that Nandalal was travelling with a huge amount of cash and had links with Maoists.
Acting on the tip-off, the constables brought Nandalal to Sadar police station and threatened him of implicating him in Maoist link case if he did not hand over the money, the SP said.