Ending days of speculations, the Sundargarh police finally rescued the Kolkata based businessman and his driver on Wednesday from Balangir, who were kidnapped in Sundargarh district.
The police, however, have not revealed the details of kidnapping and about persons involved in this act. The family members of the businessman have heaved a sigh of relief and thanked Sundargarh police.
Businessman Pratik Patodia (31), director of Ashok Multiyarn Mills limited (AMMl), located at Kirei, Sundargarh and his driver Rohit Tanty, were allegedly kidnapped from Badbahal area on SH 10 on Friday last. The staff of AMMl had lodged a preliminary complaint at Bhasma police station of Sundargarh, following which police had started an investigation.
On Friday evening, AMMl personnel manager Indra Bahadur Singh had lodged another complaint in police station, wherein he suspected involvement of one Anil Bansal of Kantabanjhi area under Bolangir district, who also owns a company named as Om Organic Private limited (OOPl). Sources said AMMl had business link with OOPl and there were some business conflicts last year.
Hundreds of aggrieved farmers had lodged a FIR in Sundargarh sadar police station in July, 2015, alleging that they had been duped to the tune of about Rs 4 crore, as they had not received their payment against their cotton supply to AMMl through OOPl. AMMl had been claiming that payment had been made where as OOPl had been claiming that payment had not been received.
“After a search operation, we rescued Pratik Patodia and his driver Rohit Tanty from Bolangir district,” said Sundergarh SP Nikhil Kanoria, adding the police were now planning to bring them to Sundargarh. Besides, he said steps were afoot to nab the kidnappers.