Former OPHWC Deputy Manager’s Sister Quizzed Over Rs 50 Lakh Invested In 2 Odia Films; Know His Property Details

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance has begun a probe into the alleged Ollywood link of the former Deputy Manager of Odisha Police Housing & Welfare Corporation (OPHWC), Pratap Samal, arrested in a disproportionate assets case.

The anti-corruption sleuths are reportedly quizzing Samal’s sister Namita Das with whom Samal had made an unregistered partnership deed for producing two Odia movies under the banner of Radha Krishna Productions. His wife Sasmita Samal was also named in the deed.

Both Samal and his wife are believed to have invested more than Rs 50 lakh ill-gotten money in the production of these movies, an official release said.

Notably, Samal will be produced in a court with the two-day remand period ending on Thursday evening. He was arrested and forwarded to the Court of Special Judge Vigilance, Bhubaneswar on November 10 and taken on remand on November 16 evening.

A case has been registered against Pratap and his wife Sasmita on November 10 under sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b)/12 Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended by Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The Odisha government has also sent him on compulsory retirement.

Also Read: Odisha Govt Issues Compulsory Retirement Order To Former Deputy Manager Of OPHWC Pratap Samal

The release also revealed details of major recoveries and developments in the case. Bhubaneswar Vigilance had conducted simultaneous house searches on the properties of Samal on November 9. He was found in possession of assets worth Rs 14,88,91,194, which was 1022 per cent more than his known sources of income.

ILLEGAL ASSETS:

>> Cash of Rs.38,12,900 recovered during house searches

>> One 5-storey building over Khata No.594, Plot No.991 at Gothapatna, Bhubaneswar, with a total built up area of 20,350 Sqft worth more than Rs 3.5 crore

>> A 4-storey building worth about Rs 65 lakhs on Plot No. N/6-235, IRC Village, Bhubaneswar

>> A double-storey market complex worth about 44 lakhs at Betada, Balasore

>> 17 plots, a flat and one building in Bhubaneswar and Khurda worth crores in the name of Samal and his wife Sasmita

>> Four plots and one (G+3) building worth about Rs 1.5 crore at Basudevpur, Bhadrak

>> Registered sale deed value of 25 plots, including registration and stamp duty is Rs 3,41,58,412

>> Rs 1,07,37,831.74 invested in shares and debentures

>> Bank and postal deposits worth about Rs 1.6 crore

>> Insurance policies deposits worth Rs 57,72,150

>> Examination of his bank accounts and bank accounts of his family members revealed suspicious deposits and transfers of more than Rs 1.2 crore through cash deposit, RTGS and NEFT.

>> One Hyundai Creta car worth Rs 13,43,000