5 cops suspended for helping scam accused

Acting tough on the police personnel for dereliction of duties, the Keonjhar superintendent of police Kabita Jalan has suspended four constables and one havildar, who were entrusted with the security of Deepak Gupta, the prime accused in the Uliburu mine loot case.

The action follows the exposure that Gupta stayed at Hotel Niladree in Cuttack for several days during his 103-day leave from jail, availed from time to time.

It was found that Deepak was staying in two rooms booked in the name of his father Champaklal Gupta at the hotel at the Mangalabag locality.

Gupta was arrested on September 4 last year in connection with the Rs 1,800 crore mining scam. Four days after his arrest, he was remanded to Keonjhar Jail on September 11.

Meanwhile, the state health department has sought a report from the Sri Rama Chandra Bhanja (SCB) medical college authorities. "Action will be taken against the officials who are found guilty," said health minister, Damodar Rout.

Gupta was staying in the hotel while he was registered as an indoor patient at the SCB medical college and hospital.