Gujarat trader's abduction: Daman police remand for three

Daman police Wednesday took a ten-day transit remand of three people arrested for their alleged role in the abduction of a Gujarat-based businessman, an officer here said.

Last week, Daman police had submitted a petition in a court seeking remand of three people -- Ram Prakash Shukla, Sabal Kishore Singh and Ravish Kumar -- arrested by Bihar Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The police wanted their custody to interrogate them face to face with main accused Ranjit Singh, native of Bihar's Saran district, currently lodged in a jail in Daman.

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

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

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

The CID is probing the suspected role of the JD-U leader if any in the sensational abduction of the businessman.

A first information report was lodged against Ranjit Singh, his three brothers and father, Nagmani Singh, following a directive from the police headquarters last month.

Soon after the case came into the limelight, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked Director General of Police Abhayanand to probe the alleged role of the JD-U leader, whose identity is being withheld by officials.

Nitish Kumar Friday said the government will not spare any one, howsoever powerful and influential they may be, if found guilty of involvement in this case.