Nitish Kumar says no leader was involed in Gujarati man's abduction

Bihar CM also refuted charges made by Leader of Opposition that the ransom was paid at house of a JD-U leader

No political leader was involved in the abduction of a Gujarat-based businessman nor was ransom paid to free him, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said here Tuesday.

In his reply to a discussion in the assembly on law and order, Nitish Kumar said the investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) found that no leader was involved in the abduction.

Surat-based textiles businessman Sohel Hingora, 21, was abducted Oct 29 last year from near his industrial unit at Dharampur village in Daman and was brought to Bihar, where he was kept in Saran and Patna districts by his captors, police said.

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

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

Nitish Kumar also refuted charges made by Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav that the ransom was paid at house of a JD-U leader.

Yadav quoted a CID report and said that the ransom was paid at the JD-U leader's house located in a high security zone near the chief minister's official residence.

"There is no mention in the CID investigation of a name or the role of a leader in the abduction," Nitish Kumar said.

He said the opposition leader "should come out with proof" that he quoted from a CID report.

Soon after the case came into limelight, Nitish Kumar asked Director General of Police Abhayanand to probe the alleged role of the JD-U leader.

Till date, half a dozen people have been arrested in connection with the case.