Odisha Honeytrap Racket: With Bail In 3rd Case, Archana Nag Set To Walk Out Of Jail

Cuttack: The alleged kingpin of Odisha honeytrap racket, Archana Nag, is all set to walk out of jail with the Orissa High Court on Monday granting her bail in connection with a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Three cases were registered against her. The HC had earlier granted her bail on August 3 and April 11 in alleged sextortion cases registered at Khandagiri and Nayapalli police stations, respectively.

Archana has been in jail following her arrest by Khandagiri Police on October 6 last year on charges of human trafficking, having been booked under Section 370 of IPC among other offences. Her former associate, Shradhanjali Nayak, had alleged that Archana forced women into prostitution and she was also a victim of the racket. An FIR was also filed at Nayapalli police station by film producer Akshay Parija, accusing her of demanding Rs 3 crore by threatening to leak his photographs and video of his intimate moments with a co-accused.

The ED has been investigating financial transactions in the honeytrap racket. Archana and her husband allegedly accumulated assets worth over Rs 30 crore in just four years by extorting money from influential persons through blackmail and honeytrap. The agency traced Rs 2.5 crore deposited in their accounts between 2017 and 2022.