Odisha Honeytrap Kingpin Archana Nag Accused This Filmmaker Of ‘Casting Couch’

Bhubaneswar: Archana Nag, accused of running a sextortion racket in Odisha, had brought casting couch allegations against film producer Pramod Swain, who appeared before Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Odisha capital on Tuesday.

According to sources, Archana resided at the filmmaker’s Jagamara house as a tenant. Co-accused Shardhanjali Behera was staying in the same building.

On November 16, 2017, Archana filed a complaint at Mahila police station, alleging that the filmmaker was sexually harassing her on the pretext of casting her in his movies. He had also promised to pay Rs 5,000 a month. He also forced her to have sex with him when she was seven months pregnant, sources said.

She further alleged that Swain was blackmailing her after capturing her obscene pictures by sedating her.

Swain, however, told the media that Archana was blackmailing him. There was a dispute between them over payment of rent, sources added.

Notably, it was here that Archana struck a friendship with Shardhanjali and took her nude pictures after spiking her food during a feast on the terrace of the house. In her complaint at Khandagiri police station, on basis of which Archana was arrested on October 6, Shardhanjali further alleged that she was forced into the racket by Archana and filmmaker Akshay Parija was one of her victims.

The ED is investigating the financial transactions of Archana and her husband Jagabandhu Chand after it was ascertained that the couple has amassed property worth Rs 30 crore in a span of only four years from 2018. The couple was accused of blackmailing rich and influential persons and earning crores by trapping them in the sex racket.