A day after his arrest in Panaji, the Orissa police on Tuesday took into custody Raja Acharya, the prime accused in the murder of Biranchi Das, the coach of child marathon runner Budhia.
Inspector General of Police Kishan Kumar said that the Orissa police team arrived in the state on Tuesday morning and took the custody of Raja Acharya.
The alleged gangster was produced before the local court and transit remand was attained. The Orissa police team, headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Suresh Mahapatra, will take Acharya to Bhubaneshwar on Tuesday or Wednesday.
"We are yet to decide when to take him," Mahapatra told reporters outside the local court.
Acharya was arrested in Panaji on Monday in a joint operation by the Orissa and Goa police. Mahapatra said that Raja has been on the run since the murder of the 40-year-old judo coach and the police had launched an extensive search for him. The accused is a noted criminal with more than 30 cases of extortion, murder and robbery against him.
Earlier, a non-bailable warrant of arrest was issued against him and he was declared as an absconder by a local court on May 3 after Das was shot dead in Bhubaneswar by three unidentified men on April 13.
"An IAS officer is framing me in this case," Acharya said in a passing remark before being pushed into the police jeep.
All the investigation in the case would take place in Bhubaneswar and Acharya has not been interrogated since he is wanted by the Orissa police, the Goa police said.
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