ED raids former Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik’s residence in Bhubaneswar

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Thursday conducted raids on the residence of former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.

According to sources, the ED raid is on at Patnaik’s house located in Nayapalli area in the state capital.

The ED team comprising around 8-10 members is carrying out the raid from around 7 am today, sources informed, adding that the raids are underway at three places in Bhubaneswar.

Though it is still unclear why the central agency is carrying out searches at the house of the senior Congress leader, it is suspected that illegal financial transactions might be the reason behind the ED action.

No comment from Patnaik could be obtained over the ED raid.

“Earlier the opposition had blamed that why the government is not taking any action against corrupt and influential persons in the state even after six months of formation of the new government. Now, the BJP government has swung into action,” said senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty.

Also Read: Rs 231 crore fraud: Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik's brother Khirod Mallik in ED net

It is worth mentioning that the central agency had also carried out raids on the houses of Opposition Chip Whip Pramilla Mallik’s brother late Khirod Mallik’s residence in New Delhi and three places in Sambalpur on Wednesday in connection with an alleged financial fraud amounting to Rs 231 crore. The raids were carried out for the second day on Thursday as well.

Mallik’s NGO-Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA), is under scrutiny for purportedly misusing a significant amount of funds.