ED books BJD youth leader in illegal mining, transportation linked PMLA case

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a money laundering case against Raja Chakra, a youth leader of the Biju Janta Dal (BJD) in Odisha, to probe charges of financial irregularities worth crores of rupees in transport, mining and liquor businesses linked to him and his associates in the state, the agency said Friday.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

It also conducted searches in this case at nine locations in Keonjhar and Bhubaneswar on Thursday. The premises covered included the home and offices of Soumya Shankar Chakra alias Raja Chakra and his linked entities, the agency said in a statement.

The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Odisha Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) which is probing him on the charges of financial irregularities in transportation, mining and liquor businesses spread across the state.

Chakra, a powerful youth leader of the BJD, is currently lodged in jail under judicial custody in connection with the EOW case, official sources said.