The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday recovered cupboards stacked with bundles of Rs 500 currency notes during a second consecutive day of raids across Odisha, sparking speculation that the seized cash could amount to several crores.
The raids were carried out at the residence of BJD leader Hrushikesh Padhi in Ganjam district and expanded to multiple locations linked to 8–10 influential sand and liquor mafia operators in the area. The ownership of the recovered cash is under investigation, and the ED has not disclosed the exact amount, citing an ongoing verification process.
The crackdown extended beyond Ganjam, with simultaneous searches conducted at nearly 20 locations, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Officials indicated that the operation is connected to alleged large-scale illegal sand mining in Ganjam, involving rivers such as Rushikulya, Bahuda, and Bada Nadi, which has reportedly caused revenue losses worth crores to the state.
The ED stated that the action follows observations in a CAG report highlighting serious irregularities and illegal financial transactions related to sand mining, with further investigations currently underway.
