New Delhi, Dec 24 (UNI) The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday said it has filed a prosecution complaint before a special PMLA court in Odisha in the case concerning the Gandhamardan Loading Agency and Transporting Co-operative Society Ltd., Keonjhar, Odisha.
The complaint has been filed against 11 accused persons, including the main accused Soumya Sankar Chakra, alias Raja Chakra, his key associates, and office bearers of the said cooperative society.
The ED initiated its PMLA investigation based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhubaneswar, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
The scheduled offence involves the large-scale misappropriation and diversion of society funds by falsely showing expenditures under heads such as periphery development, village expenses, fuel charges, EPF deductions, and other fabricated claims.
The ED investigation revealed that the society was effectively controlled by Soumya Sankar Chakra, alias Raja Chakra, who, in connivance with the then President, Manas Ranjan Barik, and Secretary, Utkal Das, fraudulently diverted the society’s funds. This diversion was carried out through self and bearer cheques, cash withdrawals, and layered banking transactions.
The illegally diverted funds were used for the personal enrichment of Soumya Sankar Chakra and to settle dues for various business entities owned and controlled by him.
The ED found no genuine work orders, invoices, or evidence of actual development activities to substantiate the expenditures recorded in the society’s books of accounts.
During the investigation, the ED conducted search operations under Section 17 of the PMLA at multiple premises and provisionally attached proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 22.26 crore.
Further investigation into the matter is ongoing.
