ED recovers cupboards full of cash during raid in Ganjam; probe underway

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday recovered cupboards filled with bundles of Rs 500 currency notes during a series of raids conducted across Odisha for the second consecutive day, triggering speculation that the seized amount could run into several crores of rupees.

 According to sources, the raids were carried out on Saturday at the residence of BJD leader Hrushikesh Padhi in Ganjam district, following which the agency expanded its operation to multiple locations linked to 8 to 10 influential sand and liquor mafia operators in the district.

 Officials said the ownership of the seized cash is currently under investigation. The ED has not yet disclosed the exact amount recovered, but confirmed that a detailed verification process is underway.

 Crackdown Across Odisha

The crackdown was not limited to Ganjam alone. The central agency conducted simultaneous searches at nearly 20 locations, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, as part of the wider probe.

Sources indicated that the raids are linked to alleged large-scale illegal sand mining operations in Ganjam district. For years, sand mafias are accused of illegally extracting sand from rivers such as Rushikulya, Bahuda, and Bada Nadi, causing revenue losses worth crores to the state exchequer.

The ED stated that the action was initiated based on observations made in a CAG report, which flagged serious irregularities and illegal financial transactions related to sand mining in the region. Further investigation is underway.