Archana Nag Case: Central Agency Probe Threat Ahead Of Dhamnagar Bypoll Uncalled For, Says BJD

Bhubaneswar: A day after Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan dropped a bombshell indicating that an investigation by a central agency has started into Archana Nag case, the party’s district president, Bhubaneswar, Babu Singh on Wednesday said that all those involved in the honeytrap racket should be unmasked.

“Since our leader has mentioned it, the people of Odisha will soon get to know the truth about those who were visiting Archana’s place,” he said.

Addressing an election rally at Dhusuri village in his second leg of the campaign for BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj, Dharmendra on Tuesday said that he came to know from the local media that investigation into the sensational case has started from Delhi.

Notably, BJP in the state had held agitations, demanding a CBI probe into the Archana Nag case.

While welcoming a central probe into the racket, Congress’ Santosh Singh Saluja said that the agency should not be used for political gain and to settle scores with any particular party. Everyone involved, irrespective of party affiliation, should be exposed.

BJD MLA Amar Satpathy said that the BJP has exhibited its desperation by raising the central probe issue during bypoll campaigning. “Such negativity and threats are the outcomes of the fear of an imminent defeat in the bypoll,” he added.

Notably, the Commissionerate Police recently provided FIR copies of two cases registered against Archana, who allegedly extorted money from rich and influential people in the state, including politicians, businessmen and film producers, to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).  It is alleged that the couple collected a huge amount of money from high-profile people including political leaders, ministers, businessmen and other bigwigs and the ED is likely to investigate the channel through which money flew. The agency may also seek to unearth the reason behind such payments.

Archana was found in possession of a palatial house in Bhubaneswar, luxury cars and valuables worth crores during the probe. The blackmailer and her husband are alleged to have amassed assets worth around Rs 30 crore within a span of four years from 2018 to 2022, police sources said.