Bhubaneswar: At a time when the Commissionerate Police is relentlessly pursuing every possible measure to curb brown sugar trade in the capital city, it arrested one of its own Khaki men late last night for selling the banned narcotic substance.
As per reports, police caught Constable Janaki Ballav Bharimal red handed while he was selling brown sugar and seized around 20 gm of the contraband substance from his possession.
Informing about the same, Commissionerate Police tweeted, "As part of our relentless campaign against drugs in the city, Constable J. Bharimal has been nabbed selling Brown sugar in Nayapalli PS jurisdiction. Our drive against drugs will continue & we will be most unsparing."
Who Is Janaki Ballav Bharimal?
This is not the first time that he has been arrested. In 2015, he was one of the accused in a kidnapping and murder case. However, he was later acquitted due to lack of evidence. Between 2008 and 2018, he was accused in several cases including a bike theft in Khurda. In his close quarters, he is considered to be a man with lavish lifestyle and an ambition to become rich.
Meanwhile, an Additional DCP is investigating the case and looking into the possible links of Bharimal with brown sugar mafia in and outside Odisha. Bharimal is likely to be taken into remand by the police to get more information about his trade network to trace other brown sugar peddlers in the State.
Such Cases Even Reported Earlier!
It is pertinent to mention here that Havildar Ranjan Sahoo from Balasore district was arrested in September for his alleged links with brown sugar mafia. He was also accused of divulging information related to police raids by taking 'protection money' from smugglers of the banned narcotic substance.
Besides, constable Ranjan De of Sahadevkhunta Police Station in the same district was suspended for his alleged links with brown sugar mafia. Earlier in September, international drug mafia Sheikh Raja was also arrested from Balasore.
With more such cases against the man in 'khaki', it seems police are facing a tough challenge in their fight against drug menace in the State.