SIT to probe seizure of black money from Maoists: Arijit Pasayat

Cuttack: A huge amount black money has been seized from Maoists leaders in different parts of the country, informed Justice Arijit Pasayat, vice-chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money.

A detailed probe will be launched in connection with seizure of the black money from Maoists, said Pasayat after a high-level meeting of the SIT in Cuttack on Saturday.

"Besides, narcotic drugs such as ganja were seized while being smuggled from Malkangiri and other remote areas of Odisha to outside the State. This shows that Maoists are expanding their operation and amassing black money from the illegal narcotics trade," said Pasayat.

Apart from Maoists money trail, financial transactions of Sarathi, Sura baba and jailed Dhalasamanta brothers, rampant incidents of smuggling attempts and seizure of foreign gold at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar were also discussed during the meeting today.

The SIT has already submitted its sixth report on black money to the Supreme Court, Pasayat added.

Crime Branch ADG Santosh Upadhaya, Vigilance director Debasis Panigrahi, Revenue Intelligence director DP Das, ED's special director Yogesh Gupta, Joint Director Madhab Mishra, CBI SP Pramod Manjhi and officials of the Mining department attended the SIT meeting.