BJD leader Raja Chakra arrested in multi-crore mineral transport scam

The arrest of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Soumya Sankar Chakra, also known as Raja Chakra, in connection with a multi-crore mineral transport scam has stirred political circles here.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Chakra was taken into custody on Thursday after his anticipatory bail period expired.

The scam revolves around the Gandhamardhan Loading Agency & Transporting Cooperative Society Ltd, with allegations of financial fraud and misuse of funds. The Odisha Crime Branch had been conducting raids over the past week to investigate the case, which is believed to involve several BJD leaders.

While two other officials of the society were arrested earlier, Chakra had initially secured anticipatory bail from the High Court. However, with his bail period ending, authorities arrested him immediately.

Justice V. Narasingh, in a court ruling, emphasized the need for custodial interrogation, stating, "This court finds force in the submission made by the counsel for the state that the custodial interrogation is imperative in the case at hand to unravel the truth, and interrogation would become a 'mere ritual' in the event they are protected by pre-arrest bail."