HC Breather For Odisha Pvt News Channel Editor Ardhendu Das

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Friday granted bail to Ardhendu Das, editor of a private news channel in Bhubaneswar in connection with a Rs 1 crore fraud case.

Das was arrested by Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Crime Branch from Odagaon in Nayagarh district on June 30 on the basis of a complaint filed by a Delhi-based businessman from who he allegedly had purchased equipment in 2020 to set up a television channel at Badagada on Tankapani Road here but defaulted on payment.

According to sources, Das signed a Rs 1.47-crore agreement with the firm for electronic items and gave Rs 10 lakh in advance. Singh dispatched the items on October 21, 2020. Das was required to pay the remaining amount in six months. When he failed to pay even after 20 months, Singh approached the Crime Branch and lodged a complaint on June 23.

The EOW had also raided Das’ residence in the city.

Another FIR was also lodged against Das at Badagada police station in Bhubaneswar by Biswajit Sahoo, Director of Bhubaneswar-based Intraxis Business Ltd. Sahoo alleged that he had not paid Rs 5.81 lakh, including maintenance and electricity charges, for 4,226 sqft space on the second floor of a building on Tankapani Road which he had leased out to A Media Venture.

A third complaint was filed at Purighat police station in Cuttack by businessman Nisit Agrawal, alleging that Das purchased furniture and other articles worth Rs 11 lakh from him but paid only Rs 4.4 lakh while promising to pay the rest later.

The news channel headed by Das has claimed that a conspiracy has been hatched to frame him.

Notably, Das had moved the Supreme Court against the Orissa High Court’s May 9 order not granting stay on the ongoing construction and excavation works around the Jagannath Temple in Puri, as part of the Naveen government’s Rs 3,200-crore heritage corridor project. The apex court, however, quashed his petition, calling it “frivolous”.