Patna, Jan. 5: “Supervision” of a case is preventing police from taking into custody a builder who allegedly threatened a senior citizen with dire consequences in a property-related dispute.

Almost a fortnight has passed since Mathura Singh (65), resident of Raja Bazaar, lodged an FIR with the local Shastri Nagar police station against Anil Singh, a builder, who had allegedly threatened the former to cough up Rs 25 lakh.

The police, despite knowing the whereabouts of the accused have not taken him into custody.

“How can he (Anil) be arrested now? First there will be a supervision of the case and only after that he will be taken into custody,” a senior officer at Shastri Nagar police station told The Telegraph.

The officer, however, did not specify what exactly was being done in the name of supervision and what was taking the police so long in completing their investigation.

When asked what the cops would do if Anil flees, the officer said: “The police will follow the process. His property will be attached after court order.”

The Telegraph had reported about the alleged threat on the life of Mathura Singh and his family on December 26. Mathura, an ayurvedic doctor, had literally confined himself and his family — two sons, mother-in-law and a daughter — within the four walls of his house after allegedly receiving a threat call from the Anil.

According to Mathura, Anil, in connivance with some relatives of his, captured a plot of land in CDA Colony.

“We won the (land dispute) case in July last year. On December 21, Anil called me at 11.30pm and threatened me to pay up Rs 25 lakh, the money he supposedly lost during the case. I lodged an FIR with the Shastri Nagar police station the very next day,” Mathura said.

A day after the report was published, a police team visited Mathura’s house. “They asked some questions but did not come after that. If they know where Anil Singh is, why don’t they detain him and question his intentions?” Mathura asked.