Bhubaneswar: Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has filed Prosecution Complaint under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) on October 30 against Jitendra Nath Patnaik and M/s B.D. Patnaik (Partnership Firm) in the Court of the Sessions Judge, Khurda at Bhubaneswar – Cum – Special Court (PMLA), Bhubaneswar with prayer for punishment of the accused persons for offence of money laundering and also for confiscation of the proceeds of crime worth Rs 133.87 crore.
The Special Court, PMLA, Bhubaneswar has taken cognizance of the Prosecution Complaint on October 30, an official press release issued by the ED today said.
The ED initiated investigation on the basis of the F.I.R registered by the Balasore Vigilance police station, Odisha Police, and subsequent Chargesheet filed by the Vigilance Cell police station, Cuttack, Odisha under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, IPC, 1860, Forest Conservation Act, 1980, Mining & Mineral(Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 and Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988 against Jitendra Nath Patnaik and fourteen (14) other public servants in connection with alleged illegal mining.
The ED’s investigation revealed that Jitendra Nath Patnaik, Partner in M/s BD Patnaik has been involved in illegal mining without having any valid mining lease from State Government and necessary clearances from Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India, which caused a loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs 130.39 crore from 1989 to 2009. He utilized the illegally generated proceeds into his other businesses and enriched himself and his family members, the press release stated.
Earlier, ED had carried out search operations under PMLA, 2002 at the premises related to Jitendra Nath Patnaik in Bhubaneswar and Joda, Keonjhar on May 11, 2022 which resulted in seizure of Fixed Deposits amounting to Rs 133.17 crore and Indian Currency amounting to Rs 70.01 Lakh.
With respect to the seizure, upon an application by the ED, the Adjudicating Authority, PMLA, New Delhi had allowed retention of the seized properties vide order dated November 1, 2023.
