ED interrogates Archana Nag’s erstwhile associate Shradhanjali for the second time

PTI, Nov 26, 2022, 12:38 PM IST

The Enforcement Directorate interrogated Shradhanjali, an erstwhile close associate of Archana Nag who is the prime accused in the alleged extortion and blackmailing case in Odisha, for the second time. Shrandhanjali was interrogated for about 12 hours here on Friday in connection with the extortion of Rs three crore from Odia film producer Akshay Parija, an ED official said.

Her driver Chandan was also questioned by the central probe body, he said.

This was the second time that Shradhanjali was interrogated by the ED in the case. She was interrogated for the first time on November 23.

Parija had filed a complaint at the Nayapalli police station here in October alleging that Nag and Shradhanjali had demanded Rs three crore from him in October or face consequences. He too was questioned on Frday.

The grilling of Shradhanjali for the second time assumes importance as the ED is likely to take Nag and her husband Jagabandhu Chand on remand.

After falling out with the couple, she had said in a complaint lodged at the Khandagiri police station alleging that she was used by Archana in the racket. Shradhanjali had also alleged that Nag forced women into prostitution and she was a victim of the racket.

The ED is investigating the financial transactions of Nag and her husband after it was ascertained that the couple has amassed property worth Rs 30 crore in a span of only four years from 2018. The couple was accused of blackmailing rich and influential persons and earning in crores by trapping them in the sex racket.

The ED has also interrogated Gangadhar Samal, a businessman and brother of a BJD MLA, after it was found that he has paid Rs 30 lakh to Nag. “I have not given any money to Archana. I just returned Rs 30 lakh to her which she had given to purchase a car from show room,” Samal told reporters after his interrogation on Thursday night. The counsel for ED, Gopal Agarwal said the probe agency Thursday moved a production petition before the district court here seeking the presence of the couple.

The issue has rocked Odisha Assembly which is in session since Thursday.