ED seizes over Rs 133-cr worth funds of ex-Odisha MLA in money laundering case

The ED has seized cash and fixed deposits worth more than Rs 133 crore of former Odisha MLA Jitendra Nath Patnaik in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state, the agency said on Thursday.

The action came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids at various offices and residential premises of Patnaik and his related entities at Joda in the Keonjhar district of the state.

Patnaik, popularly known as Jitu Patnaik, is a former independent MLA from the Champua assembly constituency.

The agency alleged the ”derived undue pecuniary advantage by way of illegal mining without necessary statutory approvals.” ”A seizure of cash amounting to Rs 70 lakh and 124 fixed deposits amounting to Rs 133.17 crore has been made during the search operations along with the seizure of various incriminating documents and digital evidence,” the ED said in a statement.

The money laundering case stems from the FIR and charge sheet filed by the Odisha vigilance cell against Patnaik and others. ”As per the charge sheet filed by the state vigilance, the accused indulged in illegal mining for a long period causing huge loss to the government exchequer which amounts to be more than Rs 130 crore.” ”The ED has been able to recover almost the entire amount of proceeds of crime,” it said.