Alleged Loan Fraud Involving Soumya Patnaik’s Media House Unveils New Twists

EOW Interviews Three Complainants
The Odisha Crime Branch’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has taken a step further in the investigation of the purported loan fraud case linked to a media house owned by MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik. In a significant development, the EOW has conducted interviews with three complainants involved in the case, recording their statements under Section 164 of the CrPC.

Recent revelations have added intriguing dimensions to the case, including evidence of threats and the discovery of forged documents within the ambit of the alleged loan fraud scandal. Notably, the investigation also brought to light the existence of multiple salary slips in the names of the complainants, raising more questions than answers. In an unprecedented move, the EOW has requested the ESI (Employees’ State Insurance) and EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) authorities to initiate their own investigations into the intricate web of loan fraud cases.

The scrutiny into the Odia daily’s affairs gained momentum following a complaint by Ashim Mohapatra, a former employee, who invoked various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 506 (criminal intimidation), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 420 (cheating), and 120 B (criminal conspiracy). This unfolding saga underscores the deep-rooted complexities surrounding the case.