Odisha Honeytrap Case: Architect Of Archana Nag’s Villa Appears Before ED For 2nd Day

Bhubaneswar: Ranjeet Behera, architect of Archana Nag’s house, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Bhubaneswar for the second consecutive day on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the sex and extortion racket.

Behera, who had earlier appeared before the premier central probe agency on Tuesday, was grilled for around 12 hours by the ED sleuths regarding financial transactions. He appeared before the ED for the second time as  the probe agency wants to obtain more information from him.

According to sources, Behera reportedly designed the second house for Archana and her husband Jagabandhu Chand under the firm, Shilpakar Architectural Consultants.

Interrogation of the architect came after ED got the permission to take Archana on 7-day remand.  She was taken by the agency on remand on Tuesday.

The central agency is probing the proceeds of the crime and has registered a case against Archana, Jagabandhu and their associates under Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The agency earlier grilled contractor Pabitra Patra, who had constructed the house, for around 13 hours.

The 26-year-old, currently lodged in the high-security Jharpada Special Jail following her arrest on October 6 on charges of honey-trapping several influential people and extorting money from them, reportedly amassed Rs 30 crore assets, including a 3-storey palatial bungalow at Satya Vihar, in just over four years.

According to sources, the three-storey palatial house is a ‘Neoclassical’ design copied from Vietnam-based Kien Thinh Group’s website and built in a modern French style in a square shape. The first floor has a living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, lobby and water closet (toilet), while there 2 bedrooms, an office, a dressing room, a balcony, and a water closet on the 2nd floor. A worship room, SHC room, bedroom, playground, and drying yard comprise the third floor, the company website says.

The villa also has a large yard and carries imprints of Vietnamese culture.

The interiors of Archana’s house have also been designed from the demo layouts available on the website of this Vietnamese company, sources added.