Bhubaneswar: Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Police conducted extensive raids at three locations in Kendujhar district in connection with ongoing investigation into mining corruption and fraudulent crusher transactions.
EOW said three teams launched simultaneous searches at the residential and official premises of key figures – Soumya Sankar Chakra alias Raja Chakra, Sadashiv Samal, and Jyotiranjan Mishra in Kendujhar town.
The raids were conducted at Jagannathpur, Bhulukipatala and Pabitradiha, all falling under the jurisdiction of Kendujhar Town Police Station.
EOW officials also reached Nunjharan village under Kendujhar Sadar police limits to carry out on-spot inquiries following formal complaints lodged by a local crusher owner regarding illegal buy-and-sell deals.
Raja Chakra, a primary suspect in the wider mining corruption network, is currently in jail. He was previously arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March last year in connection with financial irregularities at the Gandhamardan loading agency in Suakati.
The latest crackdown by the EOW focuses on unravelling financial fraud, fraudulent property transactions, and money trail details linked to Chakra and his associates.
Investigators are examining financial documents, transaction records, and office files seized during the raids to establish the extent of the illegal transactions.
According to EOW, the case relates to allegations of cheating, forgery and financial misconduct committed by Raja Chakra, Sadasiba Samal and their associates, who allegedly formed a criminal syndicate to carry out illegal mining activities in an organised manner across Kendujhar district.
It is further alleged that the accused persons, by misusing their influence and power, fraudulently got the land at Plot No. 335, Mouza Nunujharan, registered in the name of Sadasiba Samal, forcibly removed the complainant’s existing stone crusher unit and installed their own crusher unit thereon.
They allegedly cheated the complainant of approximately Rs.1.22 crore on the false assurance of making payment towards the land and crusher unit and subsequently threatened her with dire consequences when she demanded payment.