ED questions former aide of Archana in honey-trap case

Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday detained Sradhanjali Behera, a co-accused in the high profile honey-trap case, for questioning. The agency also quizzed film producer Akshaya Parija for the second consecutive day in connection with the case.
Behera (26), a former friend of the sextortion racket’s mastermind Archana Nag, was quizzed for around 12 hours and reportedly asked to depose before the ED again in a day or two. Behera recently lodged a complaint against Nag at Khandagiri police station and alleged that the latter had forced her into the prostitution and honey-trap racket. As per Behera’s complaint, Nag allegedly forced her to develop intimacy with Parija for the purpose of blackmailing and extortion. Based on her complaint, the Khandagiri police arrested Nag on October 6.
Parija too had lodged a complaint against Nag at Nayapalli police station alleging that she demanded Rs 3 crore extortion money from him and threatened to defame him in public life. Parija lodged the complaint after a video, purportedly featuring him with Behera, went viral on social media.
In ED’s eyes, Behera is an accused as she had allegedly partnered in the sextortion racket of Nag before falling out from her. “We had registered a case against her along with three others (Nag, her husband Jagabandhu Chand and their associate Khageswar Patra) and issued her summons. But she evaded those summons and remained incommunicado. She deposed on Wednesday and was detained for interrogation. We will arrest her if we come across strong evidence against her,” an ED official said.
While Nag and Jagabandhu are currently in judicial custody after being arrested by the city police last month, Patra was arrested by the ED earlier this month. Patra is currently in the ED custody for interrogation.
Though Parija claimed himself as a victim in the case, his interrogation for the second consecutive day has raised eyebrows. “I am a victim as Archana Nag attempted to extort money from me. I have no links with her. I should not be projected as an accused or suspect. I have been cooperating with the investigating agency,” Parija told media persons while deposing before the ED on Wednesday. Parija’s lawyer said the producer’s face was morphed and a vulgar video created to defame him.
Over a dozen people, including victims and suspects were summoned by the ED, for questioning in connection with the honey-trap case.