Union Minister Bisweswar Tudu on Sunday launched a veiled attack on the state government amid an intensified probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the lady blackmailer Archana Nag case. Targeting the BJD-led dispensation, Tudu said, “As you sow, so shall you reap.”
“It is too early to say anything about the investigation. But those involved, irrespective of whether they belong to the Opposition or ruling party, will have to pay the price,” said the Minister.
“Like police, they (ED, CBI) will also follow a procedure and won’t take action against anyone until they get any concrete evidence against anyone. After getting proof, the central investigating agency started its investigation. Things will become more clear by 2023,” he added.
The statement made by Minister Tudu has certainly heated up the political climate in the state. It is being discussed that the Central Investigating Agency will be more aggressive in 2023.
On the other hand, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in its immediate response said the ED and CBI are mere puppets in the hands of the Central government.
“I want to ask the Union Minister if the CBI and ED are controlled by them. It is a known fact that the CBI is an independent agency. They (ED and CBI) may have been planted by the Union government. If the Union Minister himself is saying that the ED and CBI are under their control, then we don’t have anything left to say,” said BJD MP Munna Khan.
It has been alleged that lady blackmailer Archana Nag honey-.trapped more than 25 influential persons including 18 MLAs with majority of them being from the ruling BJD.
Notably, the ED on Sunday seized Nag’s missing white SUV after it was found abandoned in Mancheswar Industrial area of Bhubaneswar.