Berhampur: Intensifying their probe against arrested former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena, police Friday seized one of his cars worth Rs 1.35 crore registered in Haryana from Bhubaneswar, even as he is being quizzed by various police stations in connection with his involvement several criminal cases, police said.
Police suspect that Jena might have purchased the luxury car through Pradip Singh, the owner of chit fund firm Green India.
Police stepped up investigation about the luxury car and the case will be handed over to CBI, if necessary, said SP Sarthak Sarangi.
Ramesh was Friday grilled at Golanthara police station while the police are on the lookout for the former MLA’s other cars. A police official said four of the 10 vehicles owned by Jena are in police custody.
Police also interrogated Jena over a diary, which was seized from his aide Murali. Names of traders, builders and illegal gutkha manufacturers have been mentioned in the diary.
Till date, the police have registered two cases against the former Sanakhemundi MLA.
During investigation, police got various leads about Jena. He often used to go abroad and spend a lavish life, police said.
Jena had engaged over 100 people in his money laundering business and was earning in crores, police said, adding he had purchased landed properties and buildings at several places.
From the diary, police learnt that several police officers, reporters, lawyers and some political leaders were in his payroll.
Now, the police are in hot pursuit of his nephew Pintu Jena, who is absconding. Police came to know that Pintu had commanded his influence in Sanakhemundi with the help of political leaders and locals linked with Jena. Police are also looking out for Jena’s another aide Danda Maharana.
Police had Thursday seized two guns from Jena’s residence. The guns are believed to have been procured from Kolkata and Munger in Bihar but the former legislator’s link with arrested gangster siblings Sushant and Sushil Dhalasamanta is yet to be established.
A total of 38 cases are registered in his name at various police stations of state, police said. While 27 cases were registered in police stations under Berhampur police district, 10 cases were registered in Patapur police station and one in Kharavela Nagar police station of Bhubaneswar. PNN
