ED Seeks Court’s Permission To Auction High-End Vehicles Of Odisha Honey-Trap Accused Archana Nag

Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing money laundering allegations against alleged woman blackmailer Archana Nag, has moved the court to auction two high-end SUVs of the accused.

The agency had seized the vehicles worth around Rs 56.5 lakh under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act during investigation into the high-profile sextortion racket being run in and around the city of Bhubaneswar. A white Ford Endeavour suspected to be among the fleet of luxury cars belonging to Archana was found abandoned at Mancheswar industrial estate here in November 2022. Accused amassing Rs 30 crore through the racket in just two years, she was also found in possession of expensive two-wheelers, a farmhouse and a horse.

In January 2023, the ED had also attached a palatial house, which has imported interior decorations worth around Rs 3.64 crore, belonging to her. It is also likely to go under the hammer once the vehicles are auctioned, sources said.

Arrested on October 6, 2022, Archana was charged with allegedly forcing women into prostitution and later using them to blackmail people in powerful positions. She walked out of Jharpara prison here in December last year, after being granted bail in the ED case. The Orissa High Court had earlier granted her bail in two other cases filed against her Bhubaneswar police.