ED seizes Rs 133 cr FD of ex-MLA Jitu Patnaik

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 133 crore FD after raids at several places associated with mines owner and former Champua MLA Jitu Patnaik over money laundering charges.

Teams of the law enforcement agency had conducted simultaneous searches at four places including Patnaik's residence in Joda, office at Baneikala chhak in Keonjhar and house at Kabisurya Nagar in Bhubaneswar.

According to sources, the ED has reportedly confiscated fixed deposit assets worth around Rs 133 crore belonging to the former legislator. The probe agency officials are also said to have laid their hands on Rs 69 lakh cash and many other crucial documents including bank passbooks during raid at Patnaik's residence.

An MLA from Champua Assembly constituency between 2009 and 2014, Patnaik has several mines block in Joda area of Keonjhar. He has been accused of allegedly causing revenue losses worth crores of rupees to the Odisha government by carrying out illegal mining. 

The Odisha State Vigilance had filed a case of money laundering against Patnaik in 2009 and submitted the chargesheet in 2013.