Bhubaneswar: Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Odisha Police Friday launched search operations at the office, home and properties of Nekkenti Bhaskar Rao, a former Rajya Sabha member from Odisha, officials said.
Eight EOW teams conducted raids at 11 properties and business units belonging to Rao and his family in Rayagada and Bhubaneswar, they said.
The case relates to large-scale financial irregularities, criminal misappropriation of funds, extortion and criminal intimidation involving the office bearers of a truck owners’ association at Rayagada, officials said.
The case was registered with the EOW Thursday. It was alleged that the prime accused, in connivance with other office-bearers, had allegedly been collecting money from truck owners since 2005 under different heads, purportedly including contributions meant to fund Naxalite activities, the EOW said in a statement.
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The association collected huge amounts of money without proper accounting or issuing receipts, it said.
The EOW further alleged that the misappropriated funds were diverted to various private business ventures, including logistics, trading, mining and real estate.
Bhaskar Rao is a political leader from Rayagada. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJD ticket in 2016. He also served as deputy chairman of the state planning board.
