Bihar cops to probe state politician's hand in kidnapping

A team of Bihar Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headed to Daman to probe allegations of a nexus between criminals and a ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader in the abduction for ransom of a Gujarat-based businessman.

Police said Sunday that the team would probe the abduction of the businessman, who was released Nov 30 after a ransom of Rs.25 crore was paid.

TV news channels have carried reports of the allegation that a political leader close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was involved in the crime.

According to police officials, Surat-based textile businessman, 21-year-old Sohel Hingora, was abducted Oct 29 from near his industrial unit at Dharampur village in Daman and taken to Bihar, where he was kept in Saran and Patna districts by his armed abductors.

Hanif Hingora, father of the abducted man, alleged that a JD-U leader, police officers and a professional gang from Bihar were involved in the crime.

"Police officers from Bihar, along with a professional gang, kidnapped my son. We have also come to know that some politicians from Bihar were involved," he said.

The Bihar team expects to be aided by Daman Police in their investigation.

"A CID team, led by a deputy superintendent of police-rank official, will meet Daman Police for feedback in the case and also collect details of the call records of Hanif Hingora," Deputy Inspector General Kamal Kishore Singh of the CID said.

A First Information Report was lodged in the Nayagaon police station in Saran district of Bihar against Ranjit Singh, his three brothers and father, Nagmani Singh, following a directive from the police headquarters two days ago.

The police were helped in zeroing-in on the accused as Hingora remembered the number of the set-top box of the TV in a room in which he was kept captive.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Thursday asked Director General of Police Abhayanand to probe the alleged role of a JD-U leader, whose identity is being withheld by officials, in the abduction of the Gujarat-based businessman.

Nitish Kumar, responding to the allegations reported on TV channels, said the government will not spare any one, howsoever powerful and influential he or she may be, if found guilty of involvement in this case.