Car used to abduct Gujarat businessman found in Bihar

Police Thursday said they have recovered a car, allegedly used in the abduction of a Gujarat-based businessman last year, from Bihar.

"A CID (Criminal Investigation Department) team probing the case has recovered the car from Patori in Samastipur district," said Superintendent of Police Babu Ram.

The car belonged to Pappu Choudhary, one of the accused, who was arrested in July by Gujarat Police from Gaya district. Choudhary is lodged in a Surat jail.

According to the chargesheet, Choudhary was the main conspirator behind the kidnapping of Surat-based textile trader Sohel Hingora Oct 29, 2013 from near his industrial unit at Dharampur village.

Sohel Hingora, 21, was brought to Bihar, where he was kept in Saran and Patna districts.

Police attached the property of prime accused Chandan Sonar in Vaishali district last month. Sonar is on the run.

His property was attached following a court order after he failed to surrender within the given deadline, a district official said.

On July 1, the court issued warrants for attaching Sonar' property on the plea of an investigation officer.

Sonar was the kingpin of the gang involved in the abduction, police said.

Sohel Hingora's father Hanif Hingora alleged that a Janata Dal-United leader, some police officers and a gang based in Bihar were involved in the crime. The state government has denied the role of any JD-U leader in the case.

Sohel Hingora was released Nov 30 after a ransom of Rs.25 crore was paid.

Five people have been arrested in the case.