By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: After BJD MLA Badri Narayan Patra’s outburst against former Keonjhar SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra , Collector Ashish Thakre and fugitive Tamil Sanyashi VK Pandian, soon after arrest of mines mafia and BJD leader Raja Chakra, the on-going investigation by Odisha Police CID-CB’s EOW may take a u turn.
Raja Chakra has founded Sankar Mineral, Shankar Transporting Shankar Roadways and Sankar Project etc. to run his business. EOW arrested BJD leader Raja Chakra in connection with large-scale irregularities in a mining and transport scam.
Keonjhar’s Ghasipura MLA Patra claimed that Raja got undue favour from then SP and Collector and even SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra’s brother-in-law was doing business with accused Raja Chakra. “VK Pandian was also made aware of Chakra’s growing illegal activities,” Patra claimed.
‘As I know former Collector Ashish Thakare and SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra had been providing Raja Chakra full support. They were also a part and parcel of the illegal activity. The duo had a share in the loot of mines, financial irregularities, and kickbacks. They were in Keonjhar for nearly 5-6 years and with their active support, he (accused Chakra) had spread his business empire,” BJD MLA Patra claimed.
Crime Branch ADG Vinaytosh Mishra revealed how the EOW conducted the probe and finally managed to unearth massive corruption in the funds that were meant for periphery development near Gandhamadhan hills in Keonjhar.
The dubious role of BJD leaders like VK Pandian, Babby Das alias Pranab Prakash Das , Manas Mangaraj, former Special Secretary to Naveen Patnaik, DS Kutey, then Steel and Mines Secretary DK Singh, 2 former MDs of Odisha Mining Corporation, Balwant Singh and R Vineel Krishna are now under scanner of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi led Government in Odisha
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.
During the inquiry, it was found that the loading agency had earned approximately Rs185 crore from 2017-18 to March 2024, a figure that may increase further after a comprehensive audit, Crime Branch DG Vinayatosh Mishra said.
He further revealed that the broad investigation indicated that the President and Secretary of the cooperative, Manas Barik and Utkal Das, along with some other influential local figures, had defrauded substantial amounts. Both the President and Secretary of the Cooperative society have already been arrested by the Crime Branch.
The Crime Branch ADG further informed that Rs34 crore were taken in the name of Peripheral Development, but no actual development work was carried out, as per reports from two Block Development Officers.
Similarly, Rs.9.1 crore were paid to Maa Kali Petrol Pump, which, instead of supplying fuel to Gandhamardan Mines Limited (GML), provided fuel to the vehicles of Soumya Shankar Chakra, alias Raja Chakra.
Mishra also noted that around Rs.33 crores were distributed among local villagers, who were supposed to be members of the cooperative society. The EOW also found that around 74 crore has been shown as loading charges and labour payment.
Though Chakra was not associated with the society on paper, society was running as per his dictates through his henchman Sadashiv Samal, Sudhansu Shekhar Naik and Samir Jena, he said.
42 vehicles belonging to Raja Chakra have been seized and further two screening plants have been seized. Several bank accounts have been frozen and an amount of about 25 akh freezed in the banks. EOW further Interrogation of Raja Chakra will reveal who others behind the scam.
Allegation has also been raised highlighting BJD leader Bobby Das’s name. Whether he will be the next to face EOW’s scrutiny remains a pertinent question. Soumya Shankar Chakra was being supported by Bobby Das . Locals of Keonjhar also get to hear that the roots of Raja’s illegal activities had spread up to VK Pandian and Manas Mangaraj gangs.
