Meeting of SIT probing black money trail begins in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Oct 17:

A crucial meeting of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating black money trail headed by SIT Vice-Chairman Justice Arijit Pasayat is being held at his residence here today.

The SIT meeting assumes significance in view of the recent expose of many fake godmen, recent news of illegal stacking of minerals in Renjda railway siding in Koida and the multi-thousand crore chit fund scam in Odisha.

The meeting is being attended by officials from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), senior officials of the Income Tax and Crime Branch officials. They are expected to appraise the findings of the ongoing probes in the meeting.

The recent case of illegal stacking of iron ores in Renjda railway siding in Koida in Sundargarh district, and self-proclaimed godmen would be discussed in the meeting, sources said.

The recent expose of lavish and corrupt lifestyles of self-proclaimed godmen especially Santosh Raul alias Sarathi Baba and Sura Baba alias Surendranath Mishra, have drawn the SIT’s interest in the state.

Justice Pasayat is also said to have collected documents of over one thousand pages from OMC.

The Odisha Crime Branch is currently investigating into forgery, cheating and fraudulent accumulation of huge properties by self proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba will share their findings with the ED which is positive about taking up the case, sources added.