Post News Network
Cuttack: Chauliaganj police Monday questioned Asesh Mohanty alias Bulu, son of former Rourkela MLA Braja Kishore Mohanty, in connection with his alleged links with the Dhalasamanta brothers.
Bulu appeared before police following a summons notice. Although he was grilled for several hours, police said he will be questioned again Tuesday.
According to sources, the gangster siblings had allegedly fixed the tender for a `12-crore road project connecting Timber Colony in Rourkela to Malgodown with the help of a contractor with whom Bulu was working. Work on the project under the road and buildings department has already begun.
During the questioning, police managed to elicit crucial information from Bulu about his links with the criminal siblings, how the duo fixed the tender of the project, and their criminal networks in Rourkela and its outskirts, said sources. Police learnt that the criminal siblings frequently visited Rourkela and that they had five to six associates working for them there.
Police also extracted information as to how tenders were being fixed and the role of government officials and local contractors in the racket, said sources. Moreover, police extracted information from Bulu about where the criminal siblings used to stay in Rourkela, said sources.
Bulu, who resides at Basanti Colony, is a former councilor of Rourkela Municipality. He had won the civic elections on a Congress ticket in 2008. However, he reportedly joined BJP later. His father being a former MLA, Bulu is said to have a strong influence in the area, said sources.
Meanwhile, Commissionerate Police Monday picked up two alleged associates of the Dhalasamanta brothers from Kalyannagar area under Madhupatna police limits. Police identified one of them as Mantu. Police started interrogating the duo and also raided several places on the basis of information extracted from them.