Odisha EOW arrests Raja Chakra in ₹185 crore Gandhamardan mining scam

Bhubaneswar, March 13: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch has arrested Raja Chakra for his alleged involvement in large-scale financial irregularities linked to the Gandhamardan Loading Agency. He is accused of misappropriating cooperative funds meant for the welfare of villagers impacted by mining activities.

The case was registered on February 7 following a complaint from a resident near the Gandhamardan mines in Keonjhar district. The EOW initiated an investigation under IPC sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B. Addressing the media, Crime Branch Director General of Police Vinaytosh Mishra confirmed that Raja Chakra was the latest arrest in the case, bringing the total number of detainees to three.

Investigations revealed that the loading agency had generated approximately ₹185 crore between 2017-18 and March 2024. However, substantial financial mismanagement was uncovered, allegedly orchestrated by the agency's President, Manas Barik, and Secretary, Utkal Das, with the support of local influential figures.

Authorities discovered that ₹34 crore, allocated for peripheral development, was siphoned off without any visible improvements. Additionally, ₹9.1 crore was transferred to Maa Kali Petrol Pump, which failed to supply fuel to the Gandhamardan Loading Agency (GML). Instead, the fuel was used for vehicles owned by Soumya Shankar Chakra, with expenses covered by GML.

Further investigation revealed that ₹33 crore was distributed among villagers, supposedly cooperative society members, to secure their support for Raja Chakra. Another ₹74 crore was documented as loading charges and labor payments, though verification of muster rolls and vouchers suggested discrepancies.

A forensic audit is now planned to determine the total scale of financial irregularities, as no official audit has been conducted since 2012-13.