BHUBANESWAR: Former secretary of Odisha Olympic Association (OOA), Asirbad Behera, who has been in the eye of controversy for allegedly grabbing government land at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, received a fresh blow as the enforcement directorate (ED) registered a money laundering case against him on Monday.
Behera is already under the glare of CBI, which in April this year started investigation into the alleged land grabbing and unauthorised constructions of a wedding mandap (Barabati Palace) and shops on the encroached land by OOA. CBI said Behera generated huge revenue from Barabati Palace for personal benefit and engaged INCON Associates, a private firm having his son and son-in-law as partners, for management of the wedding hall.
"We have registered the money laundering case against Behera and INCON Associates. We will soon serve them notices to depose at our office for interrogation," an ED officer told TOI. Prima facie, ED suspects Behera and INCON Associates, allegedly committed financial fraud of nearly Rs 1 crore by misappropriating rents collected from Barabati Palace and shops. "We will ascertain the exact amount of the money laundering during our investigation. Bank accounts of OOA, Behera and INCON Associates will be thoroughly examined. We will chase the money trail," the ED officer said. Neither Behera nor functionaries of INCON Associates were available for comment.
Behera had allegedly leased out land inside Barabati stadium to INCON Associates for construction of Barabati Palace. The wedding mandap and 23 shops were constructed on nearly 0.705 acres allegedly encroached upon by the OOA on Barabati Stadium. Trouble erupted for Behera after the Accountant General cited serious corruption and financial irregularities in OOA in 2014. The issue subsequently landed in Orissa high court, which in November 2014 ordered a Crime Branch probe into the alleged land scam and financial irregularity. Behera had moved the Supreme Court, challenging the decision.
The Supreme Court in April this year found evidence of alleged encroachment on Barabati Stadium and asked the Cuttack district administration to possession over the marriage mandap and 23 shops. The apex court then entrusted the CBI to probe the alleged cheating and criminal conspiracy against Behera and INCON Associates. The Supreme Court also barred Behera from contesting elections for any post of the OOA. Behera was secretary of OOA since 1988 and had stepped down from the post last year following the apex court's direction.
Behera is already under the glare of CBI, which in April this year started investigation into the alleged land grabbing and unauthorised constructions of a wedding mandap (Barabati Palace) and shops on the encroached land by OOA. CBI said Behera generated huge revenue from Barabati Palace for personal benefit and engaged INCON Associates, a private firm having his son and son-in-law as partners, for management of the wedding hall.
"We have registered the money laundering case against Behera and INCON Associates. We will soon serve them notices to depose at our office for interrogation," an ED officer told TOI. Prima facie, ED suspects Behera and INCON Associates, allegedly committed financial fraud of nearly Rs 1 crore by misappropriating rents collected from Barabati Palace and shops. "We will ascertain the exact amount of the money laundering during our investigation. Bank accounts of OOA, Behera and INCON Associates will be thoroughly examined. We will chase the money trail," the ED officer said. Neither Behera nor functionaries of INCON Associates were available for comment.
Behera had allegedly leased out land inside Barabati stadium to INCON Associates for construction of Barabati Palace. The wedding mandap and 23 shops were constructed on nearly 0.705 acres allegedly encroached upon by the OOA on Barabati Stadium. Trouble erupted for Behera after the Accountant General cited serious corruption and financial irregularities in OOA in 2014. The issue subsequently landed in Orissa high court, which in November 2014 ordered a Crime Branch probe into the alleged land scam and financial irregularity. Behera had moved the Supreme Court, challenging the decision.
The Supreme Court in April this year found evidence of alleged encroachment on Barabati Stadium and asked the Cuttack district administration to possession over the marriage mandap and 23 shops. The apex court then entrusted the CBI to probe the alleged cheating and criminal conspiracy against Behera and INCON Associates. The Supreme Court also barred Behera from contesting elections for any post of the OOA. Behera was secretary of OOA since 1988 and had stepped down from the post last year following the apex court's direction.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
