The Enforcement Directorate (ED) of the Government of India has summoned Dharmasala BJD MlA Pranab Kumar Balabantaray in connection with his alleged links with the arrested gangster siblings Sushant and Sushil Dhalasamanta (D-brothers).
The ED has asked the MlA to appear before it at 3 pm on May 7 and furnish concerned documents along with audit reports of his transport agency from 2005-06 to 2009-10. The summon issued on May 1 is addressed to Pranab Balabantaray, MD, Balabantaray Transport and Minerals Private limited, Biju Nagar, Rasulpur, Jajpur.
The D-brothers, who are in jail now, are accused of murder, extortion collection and tender fixing. Hence, the ED notice has been a matter of discussion in the entire political circle in the State. At least, it has been understood that Balabantaray’s transport agency had links with the D-brothers before the year 2005.
Notably, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier interrogated Balbantaray in connection with the chit fund scam.
It may be recalled that Ranjita Biswal, former BJD Corporator of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, was arrested on March 7 over her alleged links with the D-brothers.