The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday announced to investigate Biranchi Narayan Sahoo, Private Secretary (PS) to a Member of the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC), over his alleged involvement in money laundering.
“A case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been registered against him (Biranchi) by the ED and an investigation has begun,” said ED Joint Director Madhab Chandra Mishra. The agency would try to trace the sources of Biranchi’s illegal assets which have been valued at around Rs 3.79 crore. The ED would also probe the involvement of others in the money laundering racket.
The official said that the ED is planning to take Sahoo on custodial remand for interrogation in order to extract information about his dealings. The Vigilance police on July 31 arrested Biranchi following simultaneous raids at his residence, office and other premises linked to him the previous day. During searches, the anti-graft agency officials had detected documents related to movable and immovable assets worth Rs 3.79 crore, including two double-storied buildings at Niladri Vihar in Bhubaneswar, 14 plots in the capital city, Puri, and Khordha, insurance deposits worth over Rs 56 lakh, Rs 25 lakh cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 60 lakh.
Besides, the State Government compulsorily retired Sahoo following his arrest in the disproportionate assets case. However, following Sahoo’s arrest the OSSC is in the line of fire and it is alleged that job rackets are flourishing in the recruitment agency in which many bigwigs are involved. Sahoo's arrest is only the tip of the iceberg.