Sleuths of Kolkata Police’s criminal investigation department (CID) on Monday grilled Atindranath Datta, the police officer abducted and released by Maoists in West Bengal recently.

They found many inconsistencies in his statements and may interrogate the former officer in charge of West Midnapore district’s Sankrail police station again, police sources said.

Datta, 34, was abducted on October 20 by more than 50 Maoists and then released after 54 hours of captivity following the release on bail of 23 tribals arrested on the charge of supporting Maoists.

The sleuths haven’t been convinced why Datta failed to inform the police headquarters after he heard the first gunshots at the police station, where two of his colleagues were killed.

The police station is located just opposite Datta’s residence where he had gone for lunch. There was a wireless set in the room next to his house, the sleuths said. Moreover, Datta failed to explain why he was not carrying his 9 mm pistol when he left for lunch.

CID officials are also baffled by Datta’s decision not to post guards at the SBI’s Keshiapata branch from where the Maoists looted about Rs 950,000 in cash.

The government is unhappy at the way Datta spoke for hours to different television channels and appeared on TV shows organised on the terrace of his house. “If I were in his position, I would have spoken to the government first,” said Bengal Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakravarti.