The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) Headquarters lodged a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at the Special Court (PMLA)-cum-Additional Sessions Judge in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The complaint targets 11 individuals, including the primary accused Soumya Sankar Chakra, along with his associates and officials of the Gandhamardan Loading Agency & Transporting Co-operative Society Ltd., Keonjhar, Odisha.
The ED’s action follows an investigation triggered by an FIR filed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Police’s Crime Branch, citing various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, related to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The case involves the alleged misappropriation and diversion of society funds through falsified expenditures like periphery development, village expenses, fuel charges, EPF deductions, and other fictitious claims.
According to ED sources, the society was reportedly under the control of Soumya Sankar Chakra @ Raja Chakra, in collusion with the then President Manas Ranjan Barik and Secretary Jitlal Das, who illicitly redirected funds using self and bearer cheques, cash withdrawals, and complex banking transactions. The diverted funds were allegedly utilized for personal gain by Chakra and to clear debts of his various business entities.
The ED’s scrutiny uncovered a lack of authentic work orders, invoices, or proof of genuine development activities to support the recorded expenses in the society’s financial records. As part of the investigation, ED conducted search operations under Section 17 of PMLA at multiple locations and provisionally attached Proceeds of Crime totaling Rs. 22.26 Crore.
