Enforcement Directorate plans to set up zonal office in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate is in the process of setting up a zonal office in Odisha following several cases of economic offences including illegal chit fund activities leaving its footprint in the state.

"We are working hard even though there is shortage of manpower in the state. We have issued advertisement for a joint director to set up a zonal office here," ED director Rajan S Katoch told reporters at the organisation's two-day annual conference began here.

Stating that the ED officials were working hard on the cases in the state including those of the chit fund scam, Katoch said "All people involved in the money laundering activities will be dealt as per the law."

The conference, presided over by Katoch, would discuss policy and administrative matters besides taking stock of the ongoing investigation by the agency into various scams, including the chit fund scam in Odisha, ED sources said.

Issues like new recruitment, transport, budget and manpower of the agency were discussed on the first day of the conference, which was joined by officials from the state and central governments, police and airport authority.

State Vigilance director K V Singh, special secretary in the Home department Lalit Das, Police Commissioner Dr R P Sharma, CBI SP M K Sinha, central excise and customs and Airport director Sharad Kumar also attended the meeting. PTI AAM DKB