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Bhubaneswar: The commisionerate police Sunday quizzed the deputy mayor of Cuttack, Ajaya Kumar Barik, on the charges of having a nexus with dreaded goon Pramod Patra alias Bhuan of Shankarpur in Cuttack.
Police also questioned Barik, who is also secretary of the Cuttack Private Bus Owners Association, on the charge that he was extorting money (Goonda Tax) from Badambadi bus stand.
Barik’s questioning has added another dimension to the case against the notorious Dhalasamanta brothers as Bhuan had been arrested by the commissionerate police for alleged links with the criminal siblings.
Bhuan is allegedly a terror at the Badambadi bus stand. Under a contract with the Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), Bhuan was supposed to collect `15 from each bus per day as parking fees. However, most of the time Bhuan and his associates used to forcibly collect parking fees from the bus owners though they could not park their vehicles at the bus stand.
Bhuan also allegedly made money on sale of bus tickets and the fixing of the bus timings, as well as extorting money from some bus owners.
Complaints were lodged by Bhubaneswar Mini Bus Association and Lingaraj Private Bus Association, according to sources.
Commissionerate police has written to OSRTC authorities seeking a detailed report about the collection of parking fees by Bhuan. It sought details of when the contract of collecting parking fees was given to Bhuan, for how many years and the guidelines for collecting the fees. Commissionerate police officials Sunday visited Badambadi bus stand and inquired into the matter.
Barik’s questioning comes a day after commissionerate police Saturday arrested three more aides of Sushil and Sushant Dhalasamanta on charges of tender fixing and extortion.
The three have been identified by Chauliaganj police as Bhagaban Sahoo alias Bhaga (55), Sukant Behera alias Sukun (38) and Subhakar Bastia alias Mangu (34). All three were allegedly involved in several crimes.
