The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch on Thursday arrested ‘Bada Khabar’ TV channel editor Ardhendu Das over his alleged involvement in a fraud case.
Das was apprehended from Odagaon in Nayagarh district. Later, he was taken to hospital for a medical examination.
While being taken to hospital, Das said to mediapersons that he was being targeted due to ‘vindictiveness.’ He said he was being targeted for exposing the loopholes in the Puri Heritage Corridor project.
Notably, the EOW had on June 28 raided the house of Das in the Jagamara area in the city for allegedly duping a Delhi-based firm of Rs 92.47 lakh.
As per a complaint lodged with the EOW by Gagandeep Singh Chawla, proprietor of Solution Broadcast company, Das had contacted him in 2020 for buying equipment for the establishment of the news channel, following which a deal of over Rs 1 crore was finalised between the two.
Das had paid Chawla Rs 10 lakh in advance in this regard while it was decided that the remaining amount would be paid within the next six months.
However, Chawla has alleged that Das didn’t pay him the amount. On the basis of the complaint, the EOW on June 23 registered a case and started an investigation into the incident.
On the other hand, Das refuted the allegation, saying that most of the equipments were substandard and have been returned.
Another complaint was filed against Das at the Purighat police station in Cuttack by a businessman, Nisit Agrawal, that Das purchased furniture and other articles worth Rs 11 lakh from him but paid only Rs 4.4 lakh while promising to pay the rest later. However, Das was yet to pay the dues.
Besides, another FIR has been lodged against him at the Badagada police Station in Bhubaneswar.