Bhubaneswar, Feb 25 (IANS): Five policemen were suspended Tuesday in Odisha's Keonjhar district after they allegedly provided VIP treatment to a man arrested in an illegal mining case.

Among the suspended policemen, one is a havaldar and others are constables. Further inquiry is on, District Superintendent of Police Kavita Jalan told IANS.

The cops were suspended after they allegedly allowed Deepak Gupta, an accused in a multi-crore rupee mining scam, stay in a hotel instead of a government hospital.

Gupta has been admitted at the Sriram Chandra Bhanj Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack since Feb 8 after he complained of illness.

During his treatment, he allegedly stayed in a city hotel for some nights where a room was booked in someone else's name.

The policemen were meant to guard him and ensure that he did not escape. However, they did not inform their superiors that he had stayed in a hotel, said Jalan.

"They were suspended for dereliction of duty," Jalan added.