Honeytrap & Blackmailing case: Accused Archana Nag, husband Jagabandhu’s mobile phones sent to central forensic lab

In a major development in the blackmail and honeytrap case, the mobile phones of accused Archana Nag and her husband Jagabandhu were sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for tests and recovery of data.

As per reports, Khandagiri Police had recovered a total of three phones from Nag’s home which were initially sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL).

While two belong to Nag, the other one is of Jagabandhu.

However, the ED had later sought the handover of the phones to the CFSL after the SFSL failed to provide phone data to the central investigating agency.

In another development in the case, Nag’s aide Shradhhanjali Behera failed to appear for her hearing in the court on Monday. While all the accused; Nag, her husband Jagabandhu, and associate Khageswar appeared before the court through video conferencing, Shradhhanjali chose to remain absent.

Meanwhile, the ED has sought permission to quiz the accused in jail.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Orissa High Court had granted conditional bail to lady blackmailer, Archana Nag and Jagabandhu in connection with the case at Nayapali Police Station involving film producer, Akshaya Parija.

However, the couple is still in jail as other cases are also pending against them at Khandagiri Police Station.

Archana was arrested on October 7, 2022, on charges of honey-trapping high-profile people and extorting money from them. Her bail plea was rejected by the Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Bhubaneswar on October 17. Later, the ED arrested her following the completion of 7-day police remand.

On October 21, her husband Jagabandhu Chand was arrested from his Satya Vihar residence in Bhubaneswar.