Cuttack: Former IG Anadi Sahu on Tuesday fired another salvo at former DGP Sanjib Marik saying that the tainted police chief had a host of dubious money transaction during his tenure.
“The former DGP had three stenos of whom Rabindra Kumar Sethi was dealing with his illegal money transactions. He had a huge financial deal to the tune of about Rs 7 crore with the Dhalasamant brothers and visited their farm at Khuntakata near Athagarh several times,” Sahu told OTV over phone.
“As per the information available with me, Sethi, who was transferred to the south-western range today by the present DGP KB Singh, had gone to meet the Dhalasamant brothers while they were being produced before the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Cuttack last week and told them not to speak anything about Marik to the police,” Sahu said.
Talking about Marik’s illegal money transactions, he said the former DGP had entrusted his illegal activity to Sethi and Ram Narayan Agarwal, who owns a crusher unit at Dadhimachhagadia near Khurda. “I have information that Sethi used to give the black money to him on behalf of Marik,” he pointed out.
On the transfer of Sethi, Sahu said after the new DGP took over, he transferred him to the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC). “But after it was found that he was still doing work for Marik, he was transferred to the south-western range," he said.
Asked whether the action against Sethi was an indication that the commissionerate police would zero in on Marik, Sahu said the police in course of its investigation into the Dhalasamant brothers’ case will certainly find the links of Marik and call him up.
“Not only Marik, some political leaders and police officers would also be caught in this case,” he maintained.
During his tenure as DGP, Marik must have collected not less than Rs 10 crore from several people, business establishments and a number of builders in Bhubaneswar, the former Cuttack MP said.
Referring to the murder of pulses trader Mohammed Farooq, who was shot dead by three unidentified assailants at his counter at Malgodown in Cuttack on November 12, 2014, Sahu said; "Let the police call up Marik and seek a clarification as to why he had allowed the Dhalasamant brothers to open their transport office at Malgodown after a few days of the murder of Farooq."
Asked whether the Chief Minister should take a decision on Marik against whom such allegations have been made, the former IGP said the proverb ‘scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ aptly fits in perfectly with regard to Marik’s relationship with the Chief Minister.
“Let the Chief Minister be asked why he appointed Marik as the DGP and after becoming the DGP, what deal Marik had made and with whom,” he asked.
Asked to comment on the statement of Sahu, Marik said the former IGP had given different statements in four days as he had lost his mental balance.
“Either he is giving such statements on the suggestion of some persons, or he is trying to divert the attention of people towards him”, he observed.
To a question on the issue of Rabindra Sethi, who was working as his Steno during his tenure as DGP, Marik said in fact he had three Stenos. “Of the three, Sethi had comparatively less work,” he informed.
Marik claimed he had never visited the farm house of Nirmal Rout, a close associate of Dhalasamant brothers, at Khuntakata.
In the meanwhile, DGP KB Singh today told the media that he had transferred Sethi to the south-western range since he had been working here for more than 12 years.
Referring to the allegation against Marik on his involvement with the Dhalasamant brothers, he said the commissionerate police will investigate the matter.