The Airfield police on Monday arrested five persons in connection with the Rs70-lakh loot incident occurred on November 30 in the Palaspalli area near the Navin Niwas here.
Suman Barik (22) of Bhadrak staying at Unit-4, Prasanta Jena (24) alias Papu of Damana area, Saroj Kumar Swain (22) and Sukanta Rout (26) of Sundarpada under Airfield police limits and Mohan Jena of Kuakhia in Jajpur district staying in the Bhimatangi area here were booked under section 392 of IPC and were forwarded to court.
As many as 46 bank cheque books, Rs34.60 lakh cash, four mobile phones, a bracelet, a knife and a purse were seized from their possession.
“The police raided several suspected locations in the State and arrested them from Nauri village in Banapur,” twin city Commissioner of Police Dr RP Sharma told reporters, adding that Mohan and Sukanta, drivers of Jagat Janani Infrastructure Private ltd owner Ugrasen Sahoo had hatched the plan to loot the money.
“Both the drivers were the mastermind behind the crime and had contacted three of their associates for the loot.
They prepared a blue print on November 29 night and when Mohan left the house carrying Biswajit, the nephew of Ugrasen in a car, Papu and Suman stopped the car near Palaspalli square and decamped with Rs36 lakh cash which was kept in a bag,” said Sharma.
Sharma clarified that actually cash of Rs36 lakh was looted instead of Rs70 lakh as claimed by Ugrasen which was ascertained after the verification of his account.