Jharsuguda: Badmal police arrested four persons on Saturday, including an employee of a cash management company, for allegedly misappropriating company funds and staging a robbery near the Toyota showroom on State Highway-10.
Police identified the accused as Pinku Suna alias Sana (33), Manoj Nanda (22), Rabi Suna (29), all residents of Sector-6, Rourkela, and Ananda Tandia (35) of Sector-15, Rourkela.
Suna, a cash executive with Radiant Cash Management Services Ltd, was entrusted with collecting money from clients in Jharsuguda and depositing it in designated bank accounts.
According to police, Suna deposited Rs. 2.30 Lakh on August 18 but retained Rs. 5.38 lakh collected from different clients. When questioned by the company, Suna claimed that unidentified persons had robbed him of Rs. 5.38 lakh near the Toyota showroom at Badmal. He had allegedly also failed to deposit Rs. 3.59 lakh collected earlier. However, inconsistencies in his statement and the earlier non-deposit raised suspicion.
Police investigation subsequently revealed that the robbery was allegedly staged as part of a pre-planned conspiracy to conceal the misappropriation. Police said Suna had handed over the cash to his associates to create the impression that it had been looted.
Jharsuguda SP G R Raghavendra said, “Police initiated a scientific investigation involving CCTV footage, technical surveillance, local intelligence and verification of the suspects’ movements.
“The evidence indicated that the incident was pre-planned, with Pinku Suna emerging as the key conspirator,” Raghavendra said.
Police said the conspiracy was allegedly planned in Rourkela on August 16 and executed two days later. Suna allegedly involved his relative Rabi, who introduced Ananda, while Manoj allegedly provided information about cash collection locations.
Police recovered Rs. 4.89 lakh, five mobile phones and two motorcycles from the accused. The case involves alleged misappropriation of around Rs. 8.48 lakh.
A case has been registered under Sections 316(4) and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway to trace the remaining money, establish the financial trail and identify others involved.”
