One more held in Bihar for Gujarat trader's abduction

One more man was arrested in Bihar for his alleged role in the abduction of a Gujarat-based businessman Oct 29, police said Monday.

Bihar Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Prem Prakash, a close associate of main suspect and gangster Chandan Sonar from Vaishali district, and interrogated him in connection with the case, a police officer said.

CID officials suspect that Prakash was involved in the kidnapping and received his share of Rs.10 lakh from the staggering Rs.25 crore ransom money.

The CID is probing the suspected role of a ruling Janata Dal-United leader in the sensational abduction of a Gujarat-based businessman for ransom.

Earlier, police arrested three people who are in remand of Daman police.

One of the arrested is Ranjit Singh, and police are looking for his brother Dipak Kumar and Chandan Sonar, who are said to have played an important role in the abduction.

The businessman was released Nov 30 after the Rs.25 crore ransom was paid. The CID team is visiting Daman for investigations.

According to police officials, Surat-based textile 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 JD-U leader, some 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.

A First Information Report was lodged at 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 Sohel 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 businessman.

Nitish Kumar, responding to the allegations reported on TV channels, Friday 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.