Balasore: The investigation into the mysterious rescue of five young orangutans from Bichitrapur casuarina forest in Odisha's Balasore district has taken a new turn, with the name of a hotel owner from West Bengal emerging as a key lead.

According to sources, Jayanta Maiti, owner of Grand Heritage Hotel in Digha, has become the main suspect in the case. Maiti is a resident of Andul in Howrah. He had opened the hotel in Digha around four months ago.

Investigators are also examining the ownership of a black SUV suspected to have been used in connection with the movement of the orangutans. Maiti is the second owner of the vehicle, sources added.

The name of Maiti's son, Soumyadeep Maiti, has also emerged during the investigation.

CCTV Hard Disk Seized

The Grand Heritage Hotel has emerged as an important source of evidence for the Special Task Force (STF) as it has taken possession of the hard disk containing CCTV footage from the hotel.

Investigators are expected to examine the footage to trace the movements of the suspected persons and establish whether the hotel or the vehicle had any connection with the five orangutans.

The CCTV data could provide crucial clues about the animals' movement and the people involved in bringing them to Odisha.

Black SUV Under Scanner

According to locals, the vehicle was seen moving through the Bichitrapur area on the night before the orangutans were rescued. CCTV footage obtained from the locality reportedly showed the SUV passing through the area at around 11.25 pm and returning around 11.40 pm.

Investigators are now trying to establish whether the vehicle was connected to the transportation of the animals.

Five Orangutans Rescued

The five young orangutans were rescued from the Bichitrapur casuarina forest on September 8. Their unexpected presence in the forest raised questions about their origin and how they reached Odisha.

Following the rescue, the animals were shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, where they are being kept under care.

A joint investigation has been launched by the Odisha Forest Department, Special Task Force (STF) and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

The agencies are trying to determine where the orangutans came from, who brought them to Odisha and how they were transported to the state.