By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Police Crime Branch and Crime Investigation Department’s Economic Offenses Wing has got a three-day remand of mines mafia BJD leader Raja Chakra alias Soumya Shankar, after the Balasore OPID (Odisha Protection of Interests of Depositors) Court approved the request of the Investigating agency, on Wednesday.
The court granted the remand after reviewing the Crime Branch’s petition, which has sought 5 days remand of the accused while the Court granted 3 days remand of Raja to EOW.
However, after hearing both sides, the court allowed only three days of custodial interrogation. Raja’s counsel has also moved bail petition while Court is yet to decide on it. A large scale of corruption amounting near about Rs 500 Crore reported in Gandhamardhan Transport Cooperative Society of Keonjhar district, which operates Odisha Mining Corporation run Suakati Mines.
Raja Chakra was taken into custody on March 14 and produced before the court, which initially sent him to judicial custody until March 19.
The EOW had registered a case against Raja Chakra on March 7 under Sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the IPC, based on a complaint from a villager residing near the Gandhamardan Mines in Keonjhar district. Raja Chakra has founded Sankar Mineral, Shankar Transporting Shankar Roadways and Sankar Project etc. to run his business.
Sources reveal that the Crime Branch is now set to question Raja Chakra extensively to uncover the money trail, possible accomplices, and other critical links in the case. Investigators are also focused on tracing misappropriated funds and gathering additional leads.
RTI activist, had also met ADGP CID CB Binaytosh Mishra demanding to investigate the role of former Keonjhar Collector Ashish Thakre , Ex SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra, BJD leaders VK Pandian and Babby Das alias Pranab Prakash.
Raja may reveal about his god fathers. CID CB has lifted names of 21 people including some political leaders, may face interrogation. Odisha Mining Corporation and State Steel and Mines Department’s dubious role also under scanner of CID CB, sources said.
