Money laundering: MLA Prafulla Samal deposes before Enforcement Directorate

Bhubaneswar: Bhandaripokhari MLA Prafulla Samal today deposed before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here in connection with a money laundering case.

The investigators are likely to question the legislator over his alleged involvement in the offence.

The agency had earlier summoned the MLA and his son Prayaskanti to appear before it with all relevant documents.

The matter pertains to the alleged misappropriation of funds by the management of Bhadrak Institute of Engineering and Technology (BIET) in Barapada. Prayaskanti is the ex-president of BIET. He is accused of embezzling the funds of BIET and buying lands worth crores of rupees in Bhubaneswar.

Earlier, the ED had on February 15 carried out simultaneous raids at multiple places linked to the legislator and his son. The searches were carried out at 10 places in Bhadrak town and Bhubaneswar.

The agency had seized a Fortuner SUV and Rs 9 lakh from the house of Prayaskanti located at Palashpalli in Bhubaneswar. However, the vehicle has been registered in the name of Trishna Skyscraper Limited, a construction company.

“ED investigation revealed that Prayaskanti, Manoj Kumar Goswami (Secretary) and others of BIET society were allegedly involved in misappropriation of society money by forgery and cheating. Prayaskanti with other associates of the society have engaged in the embezzlement of crores of rupees by way of financial irregularities. It has also been alleged that they engaged themselves in embezzlement the funds and properties (acquired in the name of the BIET) for their personal monetary gain with the help of forged/ fabricated documents,” the ED had said in a release.