Probe JD-U leader's role in businessman's abduction: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Thursday ordered a probe into the alleged role of a high-profile leader of his Janata Dal-United in the abduction of a Gujarat-based businessman, who was released after paying a hefty ransom of Rs.9 crore.

"I have asked Bihar's director general of police to probe into any role of a leader in abduction and release of a Gujarat-based businessman," he told media persons here, adding that his government will not spare any one, howsoever powerful and influential they may be, found involved in the case.

"Action will be initiated immediately against him after probe report," said Nitish Kumar, who broke his silence over the issue, but stressed it was wrong to make wild allegations against anyone, unless there is proof or evidence against them.

He was reacting to reported news in local TV news channels that a JD-U leader close to him was involved in the abduction.

According to police officials, Surat-based textile businessman Sohel Hingora, 21, the son of textile industrialist Hanif Hingora, was abducted on 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.

Hingora has charged a JD-U leader, police officers and a professional gang from Bihar of involvement in the incident. "Police officers from Bihar, along with a professional gang, kidnapped my son. We have also come to know that some politicians from Bihar were also involved," he alleged.

The abductors called Hanif on Nov 22 and asked him to deliver the ransom in Patna. After it was paid, Sohel was released Nov 30 on the Chapra-Patna main road.

He later told Daman police that he was kept in a room in a village near Patna and was guarded by some people who loked like policemen.

Bihar's Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Ravinder Kumar said that after Daman police contacted them, a police team raided the house of a man identified as Ranjit Singh and seized important evidence including a handcuff and visiting cards of Sohel.