Businessman Kidnapped by Police Station Officials in Odisha, Rs 10-Crore Ransom Demanded

On August 14, a shocking incident took place in Balangir town of Odisha, where a 62-year-old businessman went missing. His family suspected kidnapping and approached the police, who launched a massive manhunt that led them to an unlikely hideout – a police station.

Technical surveillance revealed that the victim, Narendra Sahu, was taken to Bhubaneswar, where he was held captive at a lodge. The accused persons allegedly assaulted him, took photographs and recorded videos showing him with a pistol, and threatened to implicate him in an Arms Act case if he didn't pay up.

Police arrested four people, including a woman police sub-inspector, her brother, a self-styled crime reporter, and a local Balangir man who allegedly helped them in the kidnapping. The accused were identified as SI Snehamanjari Sahu, Sanjay Jena, Sanjit Behera, and Kshitish, who is also the victim's nephew.

According to police, the plan was to extract Rs 10-crore ransom from the businessman, who was taken to Bhubaneswar and forced to pose with a pistol pointed at him. The accused persons allegedly used staged videos to create false evidence and implicate the victim in an Arms Act case.

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“The victim was first confined at a lodge in Bhubaneswar, where the accused persons allegedly assaulted him and forcibly took photographs and recorded videos showing him with a pistol, allegedly with an intention to create false evidence and implicate him in an Arms Act case,” said Balangir Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhilash G.

Police said that on August 15, the victim was taken to Khandagiri Police Station, where Jena allegedly impersonated himself as an SI, intimidated him, and obtained a written undertaking regarding a payment of Rs 50 lakh. SI Snehamanjari and her brother Kshitish were also present at the police station at the time.

The victim was rescued after a team reached the police station in search of the businessman. The investigation has revealed that the accused persons deliberately chose August 15 afternoon to take the victim to the police station, anticipating the absence of the inspector-in-charge and other senior officers there on account of them being preoccupied with Independence Day security arrangements in other parts of the city.

Police are continuing their investigation to identify and apprehend the remaining accused persons and to collect further evidence regarding the conspiracy, kidnapping, assault, false implication, and extortion. The family of the victim has demanded justice and compensation for the trauma and distress caused to them.