Kendrapara: Police on Thursday nabbed a gangster, who was wanted in more than 50 criminal cases, from Bhilwara in Rajasthan.

Shilpataru Swain alias Kata Dipu headed a crime syndicate that had spread its network across Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur districts, said Kendrapara superintendent of police, Dayandihi Gochayat.

Swain had been involved in more than 50 crimes in the past 18 months. Apart from robberies, he used to target contractors and construction firm employees for protection money.

The cops had been on the lookout for him for some time. The police had also formed a special squad to arrest him. The squad nabbed him after tracking his mobile phones.

"He used to call the shots with his accomplices and was involved in extortion from builders, contractors and construction firms. We are also investigating his involvement in rigging the tender of governmental construction projects," the police said.

He allegedly rigged the tender process though intimidation that had led many bidders to withdraw from the process.With mafia ruling the roost and terrorising firms engaged in the construction of projects, the principal secretary of the water resources department had recently requested the DGP to intervene.