Sudhanshu Kumar Dutta

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 22: A Bhubaneswar-based businessman, who is also an Oriya film producer, is missing since August 25.

The last the businessman was heard of was while on his way to his residence near CRP Square. However, his family members suspect that he has been kidnapped by some of his office staff and his wife is also involved. They even alleged that though around one month has passed since he went missing, the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police were yet to take any steps to trace him.

According to family members, the 42-year-old businessman, Sudhanshu Kumar Dutta, who is involved in mining business, scrap deals, film production and also owns several motor showrooms in Sambalpur, was returning to his house behind Capital Fords in Nayapalli on August 25 after having a conversation with his business partner Manoj Chotia at his office at VIP colony, IRC Village.

When Sudhanshu could not be traced, his wife Swapna Sarita Dutta lodged a missing complaint with Nayapalli police on August 29.

The police registered a missing report and informed all the police stations about it.

Later, the victim’s brother Himanshu Dutta went to lodge another complaint with the Nayapalli police on September 11, suspecting the role of four employees of Sudhanshu’s office and his wife. But the police did not register any complaint following which Himanshu wrote to higher police authorities and even met some of them.

“I met the assistant commissioner of police (ACP), deputy commissioner of police (DCP) and wrote letters to other higher police officers but to no avail. Then I approached the State Human Rights Commission on September 16,” said Himanshu, a lecturer at Malkangiri College, who came to the city after hearing about his brother’s disappearance.

Sudhanshu’s business partner Chotia said that on the day he went missing, the businessman had left for his house in his white Scorpio with driver Pintu and bodyguard Kalu.

“Panikoili police in Jajpur found his car lying abandoned on the roadside. His bodyguard and driver had returned to the city, though I had seen them accompanying Sudhanshu while he was returning home,” said Chotia.

Chotia also said that after Dutta went missing, his wife withdrew cash worth Rs 36 lakh from his account.

The police have seized more than Rs 13 lakh from Sudhanshu’s supervisor Silu’s house and Rs 38,000 from another driver Nabin, who had been sacked two days before Dutta’s disappearance.

“Though Sudhanshu’s wife said she had kept the money with the employees, as she was feeling unsafe to keep such a huge amount with her, we suspect her involvement in my business partner’s disappearance,” alleged Chotia.

Both Chotia and Sudhanshu’s brother alleged police inaction.

“We want the police to take prompt action to find him and take steps against the guilty,” Himanshu said.