Odisha Honeytrap Racket: HC Reserves Order On Khageswar Patra’s Bail Plea

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Thursday reserved its order on the bail application of Khageswar Patra, an accused in the sensational honeytrap racket case allegedly run by Archana Nag and her husband Jagabandhu Chand.

The High Court completed hearing in the bail plea of Patra, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November last year in connection with the financial transactions made in the blackmailing racket.

Sources said the HC reserved its order after completing hearing. Patra is currently lodged in jail.

Patra happened to be a business partner of Archana and Jagabandhu. He was arrested after investigation by the ED revealed financial transactions between Archana and Patra. The central agency unearthed bank transaction links since 2017 and seized mobile, computer, hard disk, incriminating material and a vehicle from his possession.

Jagabandhu sold used cars with his friend Patra. He had reportedly invested a huge amount in the showroom after Patra expanded his business by building a used car showroom at Hansapal, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

With the couple having been accused of amassing over Rs 30 crore in just 4 years by extorting a huge amount of money from high-profile people including political leaders, ministers, businessmen and other bigwigs, the ED had registered a money laundering case against them and their two associates — Patra and Sradhanjali Behera.

Meanwhile, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to Archana Nag in an alleged sextortion case registered Khandagiri police station in Bhubaneswar.  She was granted bail in a case lodged at Nayapalli police station in April this year. She, however, will continue to remain jail as she was arrested in a similar case registered by the enforcement directorate (ED).