Ganjam district Collector-cum-District Magistrate Prem Chandra Choudhury has directed the Brahmapur Circle Jail authorities to shift former Congress MlA Ramesh Jena and his aide and Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC) Corporator Ranjit Mohanty to the Chhatrapur jail and Digapahandi jail, respectively.
The direction of the Collector came after seizure of huge amounts of money and contraband items from the cells of former Sanakhemundi MlA Jena and Corporator Mohanty’s during a surprise raid in the jail on Monday.
The raising team had seized mobile phones, large quantities of cash, sharp weapons and narcotics from the cells. A major portion of the seizure was allegedly found in possession of Ramesh Jena.
The seizures also hinted that even after his arrest, Jena, alleged to be heading a crime network, was continuing with his clout from inside the jail premises.
The team seized mobile phones, cash of Rs66,260, four fans, costly cigarette packets and marijuana from his cell. A total cash of Rs83,430 was seized from various cells of the jail.
The raid was conducted in the presence of Southern Range Inspector General of Police Amitabh Thakur, district Collector Choudhary, Brahmampur Superintendent of Police Ashis Singh and other senior officials.
Meanwhile, the prison administration has placed Jail Warden Chinmay Pradhan under suspension while Warden Mangulu Sethy has been transferred for negligence of duty.