Bhubaneswar: Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials conducted simultaneous raids at various locations across Odisha on Thursday as part of their ongoing investigation into the Artha Tatwa (AT) chit fund scam case.
The coordinated search operations targeted five different locations, with a particular focus on three sites in the state capital of Bhubaneswar. Notably, among the locations raided was the office of a prominent newspaper organization, indicating the widening scope of the probe. Additionally, ED officials scrutinized the office premises of a well-known builder suspected of involvement in the chit fund scam.
During the raids, ED officials meticulously examined various files and documents at the targeted locations, gathering crucial evidence relevant to the investigation.
It is worth noting that the owner of one of the organizations under scrutiny had previously faced arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the same case. However, the individual was later released on bail.
The Artha Tatwa chit fund scam is part of a broader crackdown on 44 chit-fund firms operating across multiple states, including Odisha and West Bengal. Artha Tatwa emerged as one of the key entities under scrutiny by both the CBI and ED. Earlier actions by the ED in this case involved raids and subsequent attachment of properties valued at over Rs 133 crore.
Sources within the ED suggest that renewed investigative efforts have been spurred by recent developments and information indicating the potential involvement of additional individuals in the chit fund scam.
As the ED intensifies its scrutiny of the Artha Tatwa chit fund case, the raids conducted signal a concerted effort to unearth further evidence and hold accountable those implicated in the alleged financial wrongdoing.
