Bhubaneswar: Police busted an alleged truck theft racket run by a family with the arrest of two brothers, officials said Sunday.
During the investigation of a truck theft case, Mancheswar Police arrested the two brothers, identified as Manoj Mohapatra and Ashok Kumar Mohapatra, sons of Niranjan Mohapatra, who is also an accused person in the case, the police officer said.
According to police, the family acquired vehicles on rental or contractual basis and sold them elsewhere, causing financial losses to the vehicle owners.
Biswaranjan Patra, a representative of a private organisation, handed over a truck to the accused persons under a contractual agreement in July this year, a police officer said.
However, they subsequently failed to pay any EMIs, placing a financial burden on the complainant, he said.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Niranjan’s entire family operates an organised gang. They acquired vehicles from various individuals under agreements, sold them elsewhere, and remained absconding without paying the EMIs, the officer said.
The gang has a network in multiple districts including Ganjam, Kandhamal, Sundaragada, Boudh, and Bhadrak-and frequently changes its location to evade arrest, he stated.
They have been produced in court with a request for a 15-day remand. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway to nab other members involved in the racket, the officer said.
