Odisha Crime Branch breaks open locked Saradha offices

BHUBANESWAR: The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch in Odisha on Friday broke open the locked offices of Saradha Group at Balasore, nearly 200 km from here in north Odisha, and seized computers, piles of records relating to various businesses of the group; airconditioners and other electronic equipments.

A team of the Crime Branch officials has been specially entrusted with the job of probing into the alleged financial fraud committed by the West-Bengal based Saradha Group in the state.

Interestingly, Balasore happened to be Saradha Group’s hub of activities in Odisha, besides two other major centres at Sambalpur and Puri. Sources said Saradha Group collected over Rs 15 crore from Balasore alone.

In Sambalpur and Balasore, the company has bought huge patches of land for its real estate businesses. Saradha Group’s presence in the state, its subsequent duping of local investors and linkage with an “influential” leader has created lot of heat in the state. In his controversial letter to the CBI, Sudipta Sen, the arrested chairman of the company , has said the “influential” Odisha politicians had taken Rs 3 crore from him to extend political patronage. He, however, has not mentioned the name of the politician .

Sources in the Crime Branch said plans were already afoot to bring Sudipta Sen and Debjani Mukherjee , the director of the company , to the state on transit remand for interrogation. The Group had collected crores of rupees from investors , promising them handsome returns in quick time. Like in West Bengal, the company had collected funds through local agents.