Cuttack, Feb. 15: Police today intensified a manhunt for Bhola Bhagat, a key associate and a business partner of the gangster siblings - Sushant and Sushil Dhal Samant.

Yesterday, the police raided Bhagat's residence and office at Badambadi and seized documents purportedly establishing links between the businessman and the two gangsters.

A police team is examining the documents as it is suspected that Bhagat had played a crucial role in investing money generated by the Dhal Samant brothers through their tender-fixing and extortion racket.

The police also suspect that Bhagat has key information about the crime syndicate of the brothers. He may throw more light on the Dipu Mallick and Om Prakash Swain murder case.

"The Pokhariput house, from where the cops arrested the duo on January 28, was taken on rent by Bhagat. A luxury vehicle used by the gangster siblings is also registered in his name," said a senior police official.

The investigation so far reveals that Bhagat was running a guest house from where the gangster siblings were nabbed from Bhubaneswar last month. Documents pertaining to financial dealings between Bhagat and the two siblings have been found. It is suspected that Bhagat has a stake in a sponge iron project at Jharsuguda.

In another development, Mangalabag police today arrested Sulekh Sahu, 48, for his alleged links with the gangsters.

Three firearms, including a mauzer, a single barrel and a double shotgun and 11 rounds of live ammunition, have been recovered from Sahu's house at Ranihat Teli Sahi during a raid last night.

"Sulekh was involved in a number of tender-fixing and a murder case in the past. However, at present he has no criminal involvement. But based on specific information about his links with the Dhal Samant brothers, a raid was conducted yesterday," said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

Arora said that after the arrest of the two gangsters, many people had come forward to provide information to the police. "All these information are being verified," he said.

The police are preparing a list of people, who had close associations with the gangster siblings. These people will be called for interrogation in the next couple of days, Arora said.

Earlier, the police had also interrogated Ranjita Biswal, councillor from ward No. 7, in connection with her association with the Cuttack Nagar Yuvak Sangha, founded by Sushil Dhal Samant.