Bhubaneswar: Seems like police and other investigating agencies are coming at the Pathaks from all sides now. Already on the radar of the CID, IFS officer Abhaykant Pathak and his son Akash have found themselves in further trouble as the Commissionerate Police has initiated an investigation into fraud allegations levelled against Akash Pathak by Sky King, a Bhubaneswar-based travel agency.
The father-son duo appeared before the SDJM Court in Bhubaneswar today for hearing in connection with the case.
Speaking to media, Akash pleaded innocence and said “I have not duped anyone.”
Public prosecutor A Chand said, "A case (292/20) has been filed against them (Pathaks) at Kharavela Nagar police station. The Crime Branch will take them on remand. Their bail application has not been filed yet."
As per sources, the investigating officer of Kharavela Nagar Police Station had moved court seeking remand of Akash Pathak after Sky King travel agency registered a complaint on December 2 accusing Pathak of defrauding the agency of over Rs 65 lakh.
Akash and his father Abhaykant Pathak had booked chartered flights, five star hotels and air tickets through the agency which cost around Rs 2.78 crore. However, they have paid Rs 2.13 crore while outstanding bill of Rs 65,16,233 is yet to be cleared, the agency alleged.
The company has further alleged that the father-son duo threatened the officials of the Sky King of dire consequences when they were approached to clear the pending amount.
An employee of Sky King said that the travel agency used to book charter flights, hotels in the name of Akash as he was a regular customer, and flight bookings were made for several destinations including Jamshedpur, Pune, Mumbai, Patna and Delhi.