The court ordered Verma`s release on two bonds of Rs two lakh each, he said. The Dantewada police had on September 27 last arrested the senior Essar official under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Regulation. A contractor from Kirandul B K Lala and one Lingaram Kodopi too were nabbed along with Rs 15 lakh cash in connection with the alleged payouts of the protection money to the Red Ultras besides Verma.
A tribal school teacher and alleged naxal conduit Soni Sodhi was apprehended from Delhi in this connection. The court also observed that the Essar official was arrested only on the statement given by B K Lala and the investigators could not produce any additional evidence against him. The Essar had denied the allegations of any payouts made to the Maoists by the company or its officials.