Balasore: Arrested BJD leader Soumyashankar Chakra, also known as Raja Chakra, was sent to judicial custody until March 19 by the Balasore court, officials said Friday.

According to reports, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has not yet filed a remand petition against Chakra, and his lawyer, Raghunath Pradhan, has not applied for bail. Earlier, authorities arrested former cooperative chairman Manas Ranjan Barik and secretary Utkal Das in connection with the case.

Chakra was arrested Thursday by the Crime Branch in connection with an alleged corruption case involving the Gandhamardan Mining Loading Agency in Keonjhar. He is accused of playing a key role in a scam worth Rs 185 crore ($22.2 million).

Authorities allege Chakra, in collaboration with other officials, siphoned off large sums of money. Official records indicate that the cooperative earned a profit of Rs 185 crore between 2017-18 and March 2024, though no audit has been conducted since 2012-13.

Bhubaneswar: BJD leader Soumyashankar Chakra, also known as Raja Chakra, has been arrested by the Odisha Crime Branch in connection with Gandhamardan mining loading agency corruption case in Keonjhar. Raja has been arrested for his involvement in a massive Rs 185 crore scam.

Raja Chakra and his four associates were implicated in financial irregularities related to the Gandhamardan mine in Keonjhar district. The High Court earlier rejected their anticipatory bail plea. Justice V. Narsingh, after hearing the case, revoked their interim protection. The associates arrested along with Raja Chakra include Sudhanshu Shekhar Nayak, Sameer Kumar Jena, Sadashiv Samal, and Sushant Samal.

Earlier, February 7, EOW had arrested former chairman of the Gandhamardan Agency, Manas Ranjan Barik, along with secretary Utkal Das and other officials. The cooperative society was registered in 2006 for iron ore loading operations, and between 2017 and 2024, multiple allegations of large-scale financial misappropriation surfaced against them.

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The accused were allegedly involved in siphoning off crores of rupees meant for worker wages, EPF funds, peripheral development, compensation for people affected by mining activities, and infrastructure development. Tuesday, the High Court heard the case and reserved its judgement on the bail applications of Raja Chakra and others.

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Soumya Sankar Chakra, also known as Raja Chakra, may face arrest in connection with the Gandhamardan mining loading agency corruption case. The Orissa High Court Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of Chakra and four of his alleged accomplices.

The Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) has been conducting raids at multiple locations linked to Raja Chakra and his associates as part of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities have not yet confirmed further legal action against the leader and the four others involved.

Earlier, the EOW sleuths quizzed Chakra regarding alleged financial irregularities at his office in Bhubaneswar, March 3.

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The next day, March 4, joint teams from the EOW and the STF searched multiple locations associated with him, including his loading agency office at Suakati in Keonjhar district, his residence in Keonjhar town, his farmhouse in Gopalpur under Ghatgaon block of the district, and at the checkpoint of industrial corridor.

PNN

Keonjhar: A joint team of Economic Offence Wing (EOW) and Special Task Force (STF) personnel conducted searches at multiple locations belonging to BJD leader Raja Chakra Tuesday in connection with an alleged scam linked to the Gandhamardan Loading Cooperative Society agency in Keonjhar.

The EOW sleuths quizzed Chakra regarding alleged financial irregularities at his office in Bhubaneswar Monday. On Tuesday, joint teams from the EOW and the STF searched multiple locations associated with him, including his loading agency office at Suakati in Keonjhar district, his residence in Keonjhar town, his farmhouse in Gopalpur under Ghatgaon block of the district, and at the checkpoint of industrial corridor.

The sleuths have not yet disclosed what was recovered during the searches. However, sources indicated that officials have seized 20 vehicles, important documents, and other materials. Chakra’s farmhouse has been sealed.

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Investigators are scrutinising financial transactions linked to three companies reportedly owned by Chakra, as well as multiple bank accounts. Officials are tracking the flow of money to and from these accounts, sources added. Apart from Keonjhar, raids were also carried out at eight locations across Sundargarh, Sambalpur, and other districts.

PNN