ED seals Archana Nag’s residence in money laundering case

Bhubaneswar: Officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today sealed Archana Nag’s house in Bhubaneswar in a money laundering case filed against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED officials sealed the house soon after conducting a raid in connection with the money laundering case it had filed against her in 2022. They are reportedly finding out money transfers, bank accounts and digital evidence to strengthen the case. The ED had attached the particular house in January 2023.

It is to be noted here that Archana Nag was arrested October 6, 2022 on charges of running sextortion/honeytrap racket in Bhubaneswar. It was alleged that she used to blackmail influential people by making secret videos and taking their obscene photos and later collect money from them.

She was after a case was registered against her at Khandagiri police station by one Shraddhanjali Behera, who accused her of taking her (Shraddhanjali’s) obscene photos and using it to force her into honey-trapping politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats.

Later, her husband Jagabandhu Chand was also arrested on October 20, 2022. The couple’s business partner Khageswar Patra was also arrested by the ED on November 11, 2022.

On October 27, 2022, ED started financial and money laundering investigation after receiving FIR from Odisha Police.

Court granted permission to ED on December 6, 2022 to take Archana Nag on a 7-day remand to question her over the alleged financial irregularities. As part of its probe, ED attached Archana’s house worth Rs 3.64 crore and some vehicles in January 2023

The Orissa High Court granted her bail in April, 2023 in the case registered against her at Nayapalli police station. A noted Odia film producer had filed the case against her. But she continued to remain in the jail due to other cases and ED investigation.

Later on December 4, 2023, the High Court granted her bail in the PMLA case with certain conditions like security, passport seizure, cooperation in investigation, etc.

Some influential politicians and businessmen also have been questioned for their links with Nag.