Authorities in Odisha on Sunday seized 13 tipper trunks linked to Raja Chakra, a leader from Biju Janata Dal (BJD), from a crushing unit in Semiliguda. These vehicles were found to be without essential parts such as batteries and keys.

Raja Chakra has been detained in connection with a corruption inquiry connected to a Gandhamardhan mine loading agency. Semiliguda Police have confiscated the 13 tipper trucks, all without batteries and keys, hidden at a local crusher unit.

This development follows his arrest, as well as the detention of an associate, highlighting the government's ongoing crackdown on alleged economic misconduct.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has taken Raja Chakra and his associate into custody on a three-day remand to facilitate in-depth interrogation and further the investigation. The investigation aims to delve into financial misconduct allegations within the mining sector, particularly focusing on the dealings of the involved parties.

Background Of the Case:

Soumyashankar Chakra, popularly known as Raja Chakra, a prominent leader of the BJD, was arrested following allegations of his involvement in a multi-crore transport scam and mining irregularities in the Keonjhar district.

Raja Chakra was arrested on March 14 and was subsequently produced before the court by the Crime Branch. The investigation team is now expected to question him intensively regarding his involvement in the alleged financial misconduct. Following his arrest, Raja Chakra was produced before the Balasore Court, which remanded him to judicial custody until March 19, 2025.