Bhubaneswar: Most wanted criminal Madhav Khuntia alleged a conspiracy by Niali MLA Pramod Mallick behind his arrest.
Khuntia made such startling revelation while he was being taken to be produced before court by the Special Task Force (STF) of Crime Branch. Khuntia was arrested by the STF yesterday over his links with several gangsters and involvement in a number of crimes in different parts of the State.
“Niali MLA Pramod Mallick is behind my arrest as I had opposed corruption in Pani Panchayats,” alleged Khuntia.
Meanwhile, MLA Pramod Mallick refuted such allegations levelled by Khuntia.
“He (Madhav Khuntia) is a criminal and is it possible that police will act on my instructions?” said Mallick.
On the other hand, senior officials of the Special Task Force of Crime Branch informed that nearly 137 criminal cases are registered against Madhav Khuntia.
Out of the total cases, Khuntia is involved in 35 criminal cases with gangster Tito, 28 cases with gangster Hyder, 38 cases with Raja Acharya and 12 cases with gangster Anil Chottray.
“The accused Madhav Khuntia was an associate of several gangsters. He was involved in a number of criminal cases from extortion to murders. He will be brought on remand and further investigation will be carried out,” said STF SP, Satyajit Nayak.