‘Conman’ Golden Baba set up 'fake companies with Rs 3,769 crore turnover'

Bhubaneswar: Jyoti Ranjan Beura alias Golden Baba used to lure businessmen and companies with fake business and income tax filing documents to raise money. Such details emerged after EOW of the Odisha Crime Branch seized incriminating documents during a search of Golden Baba's house.

Sources said Golden Baba had set up nine group companies on paper with annual turnover of Rs 3,769 crore and branches in Durban, Singapore, Dubai and Malaysia. Moreover, some income tax filing documents were also seized showing a tax liability of Rs 4.16 crore per annum.

Using the fake stamps of income tax department and chartered accountant firms, Golden Baba used to cheat other companies and businesses. According to sources, the conman had signed an agreement to raise Rs 200 crore from a Thane-based hospital. Similarly, Golden Baba had inked deals with Hyderabad-based Engineer Construction Limited and Bhubaneswar-based JK Medical System for Rs 300 crore and Rs 50 crore respectively, added sources.

Santosh Kumar Upadhyay, Crime Branch ADG, refused to divulge any details on the raid and said like other important cases; plan of action has been prepared in the Golden Baba case.

On the other hand, Golden Baba's advocate Dibyaloka Mohapatra said “The documents talked about were in preparation stage. Therefore, possessing them is not crime unless it is committed.”

Sources said the EOW might take the conman on remand again to elicit information on his political links.