Bhubaneswar, 14 March (H.S.): Businessman and politician Raja Chakra was remanded to nine-day judicial custody after being produced before the OPID court in Balasore today by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The EOW has not filed any application for remand, and Chakra has not yet applied for bail.

We have not applied for bail today, but we plan to file a petition later. The EOW has also not requested remand. We want the EOW to interrogate him in the presence of his lawyers if he is taken on remand, said Raghunath Pradhan, Chakra’s lawyer.

Raja Chakra was arrested by the EOW on Thursday in connection with one of the largest irregularities involving the Gandhamardan Loading Agency. He is accused of misappropriating funds from a cooperative meant to support villagers affected by mining activities.

—————

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda