In a faux pas, local police used an arrest warrant against a man who had died about 15 years ago and allegedly took into custody an innocent man only to release him later four days ago.
Basant Sahu of Santasahi locality in the town was mistakenly taken into custody on November 12 presuming him to be Sushant Sahu, who died while facing a trial for a criminal offence in 1999, on execution of a non-bailable warrant, police officials said today.
After realising the blunder, Basant Sahu was released about three hours later, they said.
"The matter is being investigated. The policemen involved in the alleged goof-up would face disciplinary action for dereliction of duty," Kendrapara Police Station Inspector Pramod Kumar Lenka said.
Basant Sahu, a small trader, said "It was traumatic. Police put me in lock-up though I was innocent. We tried to convince them that I am not the man whom they were searching for. But our prayer went unheeded.
