EOW Begins Probe Into Golden Baba’s Financial Fraud

Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch has begun investigation into the massive financial fraud by self-styled ‘Golden Baba’ alias Jyotiranjan Beura.

As informed by the Crime Branch ADG, Santosh Upadhyay, the EOW will probe two financial fraud amounting to Rs 12.04 crore and Rs 4.05 crore.

A total of 19 cases are pending against Beura in various police stations in the state, he said.

The Commissionerate Police had seized a locker containing nearly 1.5 kg gold worth Rs 40 lakh, belonging to Beura. The investigating team is also planning to seize luxury vehicles, including Mercedes, BMW cars and some motorbikes owned by him.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that Beura has also invested money in Ollywood, the Odisha film industry. He also owns a production house.

In 2012, a fraud case was lodged against the self-styled baba at Pipili police station.  Since he has cases pending against him in the neighbouring states, the EOW has decided to send a team to there to gather further evidence.

The Commissionerate police on December 31 had arrested the fraudster from Chandrasekharpur in Bhubaneswar for duping a resident of Keonjhar district.

The police were on the lookout for Beura in connection with various fraud cases following complaints lodged by the victims.

Earlier, he was residing at Niladri Vihar here. Later, he changed his dwelling to Kalarahanga and other parts of the city before fleeing to Delhi.

The Commissionerate Police on January 2 had sought a five-day remand of the arrested conman to interrogate him over his sources of income and other links. However, the court allowed police to take him on two-day remand.

The Golden Baba was also seen at various BJD programmes, where he identified himself as a party worker.

The BJP and the Odisha Pradesh Chhatra Congress had demanded the arrest of political leaders, who are linked to Beura.

“We demand the arrest of the BJD leaders also who used to collect money through the Golden Baba, and a thorough investigation into the matter,” said Itish Pradhan, convener of Students’ Congress.

The BJP state vice-president Samir Mohanty said some BJD leaders are linked to Beura as their pictures are now doing the rounds on social media.