The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to former Odisha minister and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Prafulla Samal and his son Prayaskanti Samal in connection with its investigation into alleged land irregularities amounting to multi-crore money laundering.
The summons come in the wake of the agency’s recent raid at the premises of Bhadrak Institute of Engineering and Technology, which is reportedly managed by the father-son duo. The ED probe revolves around allegations of misappropriation and forgery involving crores of rupees.
Prafulla Samal, reacting to the summons, labeled them as vindictive and accused the ED of harassment. “The raids are a conspiracy against me. But I would not be cowed down. The ED officials are harassing me,” he asserted.
According to ED officials, the investigation has uncovered involvement of Prayaskanti Samal, college secretary Manoj Kumar Goswami, and others in misappropriation through forgery and cheating. During the search operations, the ED seized cash amounting to Rs. 9 lakh along with a Toyota Fortuner Car valued at Rs. 40 lakh. Additionally, incriminating documents such as undated cheques, land agreements, and digital devices were confiscated.
The ED alleges that the father-son duo utilized funds collected from students as fees to acquire lands and flats in Bhubaneswar and other locations. They purportedly occupied nearly 5.12 acres of land designated for the cremation ground of Barapada gram panchayat in Bhandaripokhari block during the early 2000s.
Reportedly, structures including an academic building, a girls’ hostel, and a market complex were constructed on the illegally acquired land, despite opposition from the local community.
The unfolding investigation sheds light on the alleged misappropriation and misuse of funds, raising questions about accountability and transparency in educational institutions managed by public figures.
Sources By Agencies
