Arrested ex-Berhampur mayor brought back to Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Police on Thursday brought back Siba Shankar Das, former mayor of Berhampur to the state, who was arrested from Delhi for his involvement in many criminal offenses.

Das, who was on run for his involvement in number of criminal cases, was brought to Bhubaneswar in a flight.

In his first reaction after landing at the Biju Patnaik International airport here, he said, “it’s a politic gimmick of ruling BJD to arrest me as the panchayat polls are round the corner.”

“As I left BJD and contested as MLA candidate for BJP, so the ruling government is arresting me,” Das alleged.

Meanwhile, refuting the allegations made by Das, Debaraj Mohanty, Berhampur BJD president said, “It is the duty of police to arrest the criminals. Our SP is busy in arresting criminals irrespective of what political party they belong to.”