ED books former Odisha’s sports czar, kin

Bhubaneswar: Enforcement Directorate (ED) today registered cases against former Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) secretary Asirbad Behera and INCON Associates in which his son Sanjay Behera and son-in-law are partners.

Sources in the ED said that the father, son and son-in-law trio has been booked on charges of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED registered cases against the trio on the basis of allegations of financial irregularities, land grab and criminal conspiracy against it, the sources added.

It may be noted here that the Supreme Court on April 3 this year directed Cuttack Collector to take possession of properties (wedding hall and 23 shops) illegally constructed by the OOA encroached government land.

Besides, it had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into financial irregularities related to collection of rent from the shops and the wedding hall.

The apex court had issued the orders on the basis of the audit report submitted by Accountant General of Odisha citing serious corruption and financial irregularities in OOA.

The CBI on June 23, this year registered a case against former OOA secretary Behera and others in connection with the land grab allegation.

The central investigating agency registered a case against Behera and others under sections 120B and 420 of the IPC.