By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: With Mines owner Jitu Patnaik claiming that he is innocent and posses white money, but the Directorate of Enforcement, said further investigation is under progress against Patnaik.
ED has issued a press statement regarding this. It said, ED has carried out search operations at various offices and residential premises of Jitendra Nath Patnaik and related entities at Joda, District- Keonjhar and Bhubaneswar under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Jitendra Nath Patnaik, Ex-MLA, Champua Constituency, Odisha has allegedly derived undue pecuniary advantage by way of illegal mining without necessary statutory approvals. A seizure of “cash amounting to Rs. 70 Lakh” and “124 Nos of fixed deposits amounting to Rs. 133.17 Crore” have been made during the search operations along with a seizure of various incriminating documents and digital evidences.
ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of FIR and Chargesheet filed by the State Vigilance Cell of Odisha against Jitendra Nath Patnaik and others. As per the charge sheet filed by the State Vigilance, the accused indulged into illegal mining for a long period causing huge loss to the Government Exchequer which amounts to be more than Rs. 130 Crore. Thus, ED has been able to recover almost entire amount of proceeds of crime. Further Investigation is under progress, it added.
