Tender fixing in Odisha: CBI gets additional 5-day remand of three accused

A special CJM court permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday to take three accused persons on an additional five-day remand in the seizure of around Rs 1 Crore from a luxury car in Bhubaneswar on December 7.

According to official sources, the CBI has taken into custody three individuals in connection with a high-profile corruption case in Odisha, including a contractor and a representative from a reputed construction firm. The court has permitted the CBI a five-day remand period, although the agency had initially requested 10 days.

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The bail plea of Bridge and Roof Company group general manager Chanchal Mukherjee and two contractors identified as Santosh Maharana and Debadatta Mahapatra was rejected by the special CJM court. The CBI is receiving substantial support from the Income Tax Department, which has sent senior officials from Delhi to contribute to the probe.

The corruption incident came to the fore in Bhubaneswar, wherein a transaction involving Rs 10 lakh allegedly occurred outside a luxury hotel. Following a thorough search, the CBI apprehended Chanchal Mukherjee along with the two contractors.

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During earlier remand, the CBI uncovered pivotal evidence, including the recovery of over 6 kilograms of gold from the residence of Debadatta Mohapatra, who is considered to be a significant figure in this bribery scandal.

Worth mentioning, CBI sleuths earlier carried out raids on Debadatta Mohapatra’s house and seized huge amounts of money, gold ornaments, and important documents from an almirah. The sleuths also seized a digital locker from his house and later brought it to the office near Ram Mandir in the Capital City.