Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Tightening its noose around arrested gangster Syed Usman Ali alias Tito, the special task force (STF) of the Crime Branch is planning to interrogate his wife to unearth benami properties and his links with the Ollywood industry.

Sources from the probe agency said since bulk of the gangster’s properties are in the name of his wife Benazir Bibi, who is a housewife, the STF is likely to question on how she managed to amass such huge amount of assets without any accountable sources of income.

On the other hand, as the Crime Branch has discovered Tito's links with Ollywood especially in the making of Odia movie ‘Biswanath’, the probe agency hinted that it would also send notice to Jabiruddin, the producer of the movie. Sources said Tito through his brother invested in Odia movie ‘Biswanath’ scheduled to hit theatres in September this year.

The STF has also expedited measures to unearth his benami properties. Sources said during his second phase remand which ended today, the Crime Branch has managed to trace a luxury car worth Rs 90 lakh belonging to him.

This apart, as many as five different accounts present in a bank at Kendrapara Bazaar with deposits around Rs 16.42 lakh have been frozen. Similarly, the cops are also investigating how the gangster managed to own a petrol pump in his name despite his criminal precedents, informed sources.

Till now, over 50 bank accounts of 18 persons including Tito’s wife have been frozen.

The task force has also directed seven tehsildars of Kendrapara district to provide information about his morrum and sand quarries besides details related to his land ownership.

The gangster will be produced in the court tomorrow, said sources.

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