The search operation is linked to an alleged Rs 80 crore fraud involving a local truck owners' association.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch raided the Rayagada residence of former Rajya Sabha MP N Bhaskar Rao on Friday. The operation is connected to an alleged Rs 80 crore fraud involving a local truck owners' association, according to Odisha Bytes and Kalinga TV.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed by the late Y Venkateshwar Rao, who was the former president of the association. He had alleged that the former MP and others had misappropriated approximately Rs 80 crore belonging to the group.
The Rayagada police initially handled the matter before transferring the case to the EOW due to the scale of the alleged financial irregularities. An EOW team had been in the district for the last two days to gather preliminary documents from the local police station.
A team of officials, including a 21-member group led by Additional SP Ashish Kumar Mishra, conducted searches at the Raniguda residence to examine and seize financial documents. A 25-member team has been investigating the matter in Rayagada over the past two days.
N Bhaskar Rao was not at his home during the raid and is reported to be away from Rayagada. Officers are currently questioning his staff and aides as part of the ongoing probe.
