Odisha: STF takes gangster Tito on fresh remand

Kendrapara: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch took gangster Sheik Usman Ali alias Tito again on fresh remand for questioning him about his crime and business network.

The gangster was produced before Rajnagar JMFC today which granted the STF to take Tito on another 4-day remand. The remand period will be between July 30 and August 3.

The STF had prayed for a 7-day remand. However, the court allowed them four days remand.

Sources said the STF will interrogate the gangster about his role in tender fixing, extortion and other criminal activities during the fresh remand.

Earlier in the day, the Vigilance sleuths had conducted raids on seven government offices in Kendrapara, Cuttack and Chandikhol.

Separate teams of the Vigilance conducted the raids on RTO offices in Kendrapara, Cuttack and Chandikhol simultaneously. In Kendrapara, the officials searched the Municipality and the Supplies Department offices and Tehsil offices in Derabis and Garadpur where several documents were seized.

The move came after the vigilance department came to know about some officials extending undue favours to the gangster.

On Thursday, the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) had hinted at lapses in allotment of petrol pumps to Tito and his family members.

The Odisha CB had earlier arrested four of Tito’s associates, identified as Golden Papu, SK Abdulla, Imtiaz Khan and Jahangir Khan.

Police sources said the number of arrests may go up following interrogation in the days to come.

Tito was arrested after he was injured in a police encounter near Chandikhole in Jajpur district on June 30.