Bhubaneswar police launch financial investigation against honey-trap accused

BHUBANESWAR: The commissionerate police have written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to share details of the deposits and financial transactions made by Archana Nag, who was arrested here on Thursday on charges of extorting money from many influential persons, including politicians by honey-trapping.

Besides, police have asked the revenue officials to unearth her landed properties. The registrar of companies (RoC) has been moved to verify the firms run by Nag and her husband Jagabandhu Chand.

The police took the measures after coming to know that Nag and her husband amassed huge properties since their marriage four years ago. Their palatial three-storey bungalow at Satya Vihar near Palasuni, the buildings interiors and furniture here left everyone awe-struck.

“We will dig into the couple’s financial transactions. Concerned authorities, including the RBI, tehsil officials and RoC have been requested to share details. We will ascertain the sources of their income,” deputy commissioner of police Prateek Singh said after breaking his silence over the issue since her arrest on Thursday.

Police said Nag’s modus operandi was to befriend high-profile people on social media and blackmail them by clicking their intimate photos with her and some other women of her gang for the purpose of extortion.

Police said her husband is also an accused in the case. “He has been served with a notice to appear for investigation. Since he is unwell after undergoing an operation recently, we have sent him a notice. He will be interrogated,” Singh said.

Chand describes himself as a businessman and BJD worker on his Facebook page. Chand and his wife are directors of Aditya Prestige Agro private limited, incorporated in January 2021 and is registered with the RoC in Cuttack. It is involved in the wholesale of a variety of goods. They are also the managing director and director, respectively of Golden Empress Private Limited, involved in the business of camping sites and short-stay accommodations.

“We are looking for their gang members, if any. Those who have been blackmailed by her should come forward and lodge complaints against her,” the DCP said.