Cuttack: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch today took the notorious gangster Syed Usman Ali alias Tito (56) on a five-day remand for interrogation.

As per the available information, the STF had produced the gangster in the Kendrapara Sub divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court yesterday, which sent him to five days police custody today.

Sources said the police had prayed the SDJM Court to take Tito on 10 days remand. However, the court allowed for five days.

On Tuesday, he was discharged from the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack where he was undergoing treatment and later produced before the judicial magistrate court amid tight security.

The dreaded gangster had sustained bullet injuries on his left leg in a police encounter near Chandikhole in Jajpur district on June 30 following which he was arrested.

Tito, who was allegedly running a crime syndicate from his cell in the jail, was last arrested from Kolkata in April 2006 in connection with murder of a contractor. He has faced trials in as many as 38 criminal cases that vary from murder to extortion.

Most of the cases pertain to murder, dacoity, extortion, kidnapping and tender fixing.

He was released from Choudwar Jail on bail on September 15, 2010. The alleged gangster, who is accused of heading a well-knit crime syndicate, was arrested by police in Kendrapara. He was sent to jail again.