Soumya Shankar, leader of BJD, was taken into custody for his alleged involvement in a transportation and corruption scandal amounting to 185 crores.
In a significant development, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch has arrested Biju Janata Dal leader Soumya Shankar, also known as Raja Chakra, in a high-profile corruption case. The investigation, which was initiated after a villager lodged a formal complaint, is centred around the Gandhamardan Loading Agency in Keonjhar district.
The Gandhamardan Loading Agency, responsible for mining-related transportation and development activities in the Gandhamardan hills region, generated approximately Rs 185 crore in revenue between 2017-18 and March 2024. However, a detailed financial audit exposed glaring discrepancies in the fund's utilization. For instance, no visible development work could be traced despite Rs 34 crore earmarked for periphery development.
Chakra, despite not holding an official position in the cooperative, is believed to have used his influence through associates Sadashiv Samal, Sudhansu Shekhar Naik, and Samir Jena to misappropriate funds. His growing business empire includes four transportation and mining-related companies: Shankar Mineral, Shankar Transporting, Shankar Roadways, and Shankar Projects.
The funds allegedly siphoned from the cooperative were funneled into these companies, bolstering Chakra's financial and political clout. The EOW has seized 42 vehicles linked to Chakra, along with two screening plants. The owner of Maa Kali Petrol Pump has testified before a magistrate, providing evidence of the fraudulent transactions.
One of the most concerning findings was the illegal diversion of Rs 9.1 crore to Maa Kali Petrol Pump, which never supplied fuel to the cooperative's vehicles. The audit also found major inconsistencies and potential forgery in Rs 74 crore shown as loading charges and labour payments.
Chakra's rise to influence in the region was partly due to his strategic distribution of approximately Rs 33 crore among local villagers. Officials are now preparing for a comprehensive financial audit of the cooperative, which has not conducted any audits since 2012-13. Several of Chakra's bank accounts have been frozen, with authorities blocking approximately ₹25 lakh.
The investigation is expanding to uncover the full extent of the scam and identify other potential beneficiaries within the political and business networks. The Odisha government, law enforcement agencies, and credible news outlets are the best sources for the most accurate and up-to-date details on this ongoing case.
- The corruption case surrounding Biju Janata Dal leader Soumya Shankar, also known as Raja Chakra, is not limited to politics and general-news, but also includes crime-and-justice as his activities involve misappropriation of funds from a cooperative and siphoning money to his own companies.
- The ongoing investigation into Chakra's activities, centered around the Gandhamardan Loading Agency, has implications that extend beyond local crime-and-justice matters, as it involves potential fraudulent transactions with businesses outside the region, such as the Maa Kali Petrol Pump, and may implicate other individuals within political and business networks.
