CBI raids Odisha Olympic Association over land grab issue

Cuttack: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today conducted raids on Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) office at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack and on residence of former Secretary of OOA Ashirbad Behera over land grab allegations.

An 8-member CBI team conducted the raids on instruction of the Supreme Court to probe into the illegal land row in the stadium premises.

CBI also conducted simultaneous raids at five places including residence of Behera's son-in-law in Bhubaneswar, office of M/s INCON Associates along with houses at Tulasipur and Ramagarh in Cuttack.

Earlier on April 3, a SC division bench comprising of Justice Dipak Mishra and Justice PC Pant had ordered the CBI to probe into the financial irregularities at Barabati Palace and land grab allegations basing on the report of the Accountant General (AG). The apex court had also debarred Behera from contesting election for the post of OOA secretary.

It may be mentioned that, the OOA had been allotted 22-acre land under a lease deed during 1949-50 in exchange of Re 1 for construction of Barabati Stadium. But, Behera had taken possession of 2-acre government land used for parking purpose and sub-leased it over to M/s INCON Associates. The company had built Barabati Palace and 23 shops on the land.