ED registers case against Archana Nag, husband Jagabandhu, two associates

Bhubaneswar: In a significant development in the sensational honeytrap and blackmail case involving prime accused Archana Nag and her husband Jagabandhu Chand, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against the couple and two associates of the duo.

As per reports, the agency has filed case against Archana, Jagabandhu and their associates Khageswar Patra and Sradhanjali Behera.

ED had earlier sought the FIR copy of the case from the Twin City Commissionerate Police.

The agency is likely to trace the source of the money received by the husband-wife duo and bring their bank accounts and properties under the purview of the investigation.

While Archana is accused of extorting lakhs of rupees from politicians, businessmen and influential persons by blackmailing them with videos of intimate moments between her and them, Jagabandhu had alleged involvement in the offence.

Both have been arrested and lodged in Jharpada Special Jail here.

The Bharatiya Vikash Parishad had moved the Orissa High Court seeking a probe by the ED into the exponential rise in assets owned by Archana Nag and her husband.

The case has sent shockwaves across the state with speculations being rife about the involvement of several senior politicians.

During probe, she was found in possession of palatial house in Bhubaneswar, luxurious cars and valuables worth crores.

Archana and her husband Jagabandhu Chand amassed assets worth around Rs 30 crore within a span of four years from 2018 to 2022, a police official said.