A bizarre dispute over a supernatural 'Hanuman Paisa' coin worth Rs 2.7 crore led to the kidnapping and torture of a 62-year-old hotelier in Odisha. In a shocking twist, a woman police sub-inspector and a journalist were among those arrested for the crime.

  • Four individuals, including a woman SI and a journalist, arrested for kidnapping.
  • The conflict originated from a Rs 2.7 crore transaction involving a 'Hanuman Paisa' antique.
  • The victim was assaulted and blackmailed for an additional Rs 50 lakh.

In a startling case of greed and betrayal, the Odisha police have uncovered a sophisticated kidnapping plot targeting Narendra Sahu, a 62-year-old hotelier from Bolangir. The motive behind the crime was a dispute over a rare antique known as the 'Hanuman Paisa', which the prime accused claimed was worth Rs 2.7 crore.

The ordeal began on August 14, when Sahu was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint from Bolangir and transported to Bhubaneswar. According to police reports, the victim was tied up, physically assaulted, and held captive in a hotel. The kidnappers attempted to extort an additional Rs 50 lakh from him through coercion and threats.

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The 'Hanuman Paisa' Connection

The root of the conflict lies in a transaction from 2020. The prime accused, Kshitish Chandra Sahu, alleged that he paid Rs 2.7 crore to Narendra Sahu for the antique coin, which is believed by some to possess supernatural wealth-generating properties. Kshitish claimed that neither the coin nor the money was ever returned, although the victim has vehemently denied these allegations.

A Breach of Public Trust

The case took a darker turn with the involvement of Snehamanjari Sahu, a woman Sub-Inspector (SI) posted at the Khandagiri police station and the sister of the prime accused. Investigators revealed that the SI used her position to threaten the victim, warning him that a false criminal case would be registered against him if the Rs 50 lakh extortion demand was not met within 24 hours.

The misuse of official police authority to facilitate a kidnapping and extortion racket represents a grave failure of institutional integrity.

Furthermore, a Bhubaneswar-based journalist, Sanjay Jena, allegedly impersonated a police officer to escort the victim to the Khandagiri police station under false pretenses. The plot began to unravel on August 15 after the victim's family filed a missing person report, leading police to trace his vehicle via CCTV footage.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this case highlights a dangerous intersection between superstition (the belief in 'Hanuman Paisa') and the corruption of law enforcement. When police officers, who are sworn to protect citizens, instead leverage their power to blackmail and kidnap, it erodes public trust in the entire judicial system.

The arrests occurred in a dramatic fashion when Kshitish and his associate, Sanjiv Behera, attempted to file a fake counter-complaint to frame the victim. A special police squad intervened just as the victim was being brought to the station, leading to the immediate apprehension of the suspects.

Did You Know?: The 'Hanuman Paisa' is a folk-belief antique often sought after by collectors who believe it brings immense financial luck or divine intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who were the main suspects arrested in the case?
The suspects include Kshitish Chandra Sahu, his sister Snehamanjari Sahu (a woman SI), journalist Sanjay Jena, and Sanjiv Behera.

Q2: How was the businessman rescued?
He was rescued after his family filed a missing person report, and police tracked his vehicle's movements through CCTV footage toward Bhubaneswar.