Odisha Congress leader arrested for looting senior executive of pvt company

Sambalpur: The police today arrested three persons including a Congress leader for their alleged involvement in extortion and loot from a senior company official in Odisha’s Sambalpur district.

Based on a complaint filed by Goutam Reddy, who works as HR and Administrative Officer of Vadodara Industrial Plant, a contractor for Aditya Alumina,  the police arrested Balakrushna Rohidas from Dabra village under Thelkoloei police limits, brother Rajesh Rohidas and a minor boy. It is worth to be mentioned that Balakrushna was the Congress candidate from Rengali Assembly constituency during the 2019 polls.

As per the complaint, Goutam was sitting at his camp office at Lapanga at 7 pm on Monday during which Balakrushna and four others reached there and asked for money. When Goutam refused to oblige to the demand, Balakrushna and his associates thrashed him and looted Rs 20,000.

After the company official lodged the written complaint, the police registered a robbery case and formed two special teams to nab the accused.

Balakrushna and two of his associates were arrested today after raids at different places. But two others involved in the case are still at large, said a police official.

An Innova vehicle and Rs 5,000 cash were seized from the possession of Balakrushna and his two associates, the police official added.

Sources said the accused extorted money from Goutam in similar manner earlier also.