Odisha gangster Anil Chhotray, two aides arrested

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 14:

Notorious Odisha gangster Anil Chhotray and his two aides were today arrested from Nayagarh on charges of tender-fixing.

In a joint operation by Khurda and Nayagarh police, the trio was arrested from Mayurjhaila area near Jankia in Nayagarh district for their alleged involvement in fixing tenders of irrigation department.

It is alleged that the gangster had played a role in tender fixing of irrigation department on December 28 last year. An executive engineer and an estimator of the department were arrested for their alleged involvement in the case and later were released on bail.

The associates of Anil have been identified as Babani Behera and Sanjit Routray.

During the raid, Rs 95, 600, six mobile phones, 10 SIM cards and six credit cards have been recovered from their possession.

Notably, Anil Chhotray was released from Jharpada Special Jail about two months ago.

It may be recalled that Anil was the prime accused in the Prachi Division double murder case in 2005. The Second Additional District Sessions Judge Court here, in its judgement last May, had acquitted Anil along with 15 others in the shootout case due to lack of evidence.

On April 18, 2005, two petty contractors– Rubu alias Subash Chandra Das and Dhiren Kumar Sethi– were chased and shot dead near Prachi Division Executive Engineer’s office in the heart of city by three unidentified armed assailants over tender fixing issue.

Almost four years of the Prachi Division murder incident, Anil was nabbed by Commissionerate Police from Satya Nagar area in the city.