Odisha police freeze bank accounts of rich Odisha MLA
Police in Keonjhar district, Odisha, have frozen the bank accounts of Sanatan Mahakud, one of the richest MLAs in Odisha. Police said that money was being used by Mahakud's organization Sana Sena to stir up law and order trouble. The move comes a week after Odisha police arrested the manager of a private bank for transporting Rs. 50 lakh in cash to Mahakud's house.
Mahakud's estimated fortune
Keonjhar police froze five bank accounts belonging to Sanatan Mahakud under Section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). It is said that the five accounts hold a combined sum of around Rs. 165 crore.
Who is Sanatan Mahakud?
Sanatan Mahakud is an independent MLA hailing from the iron ore-rich constituency of Champua. Formerly a truck driver who transported iron ore, it's suspected that Mahakud made his fortune in between 2004-2008 during the mining boom. With declared assets over Rs. 51 crore, Mahakud is one of Odisha's richest MLAs, and has plans of forming a new pan-Odisha political party named Jana Samrudha Party.
Woman accuses Sanatan Mahakud of harassment
In September 2016, Sanatan Mahakud was accused of harassment by Kavita Mahakud, who claimed to be his son Pankaj's wife. Kavita accused Sanatan of forcibly keeping Pankaj away from her and marrying him off a second time. She also claimed to have had Pankaj's daughter.
Mahakud's organization is causing quite some trouble
Since last month, Sana Sena has been stirring up law and order trouble in the Keonjhar district in different ways ranging from holding-up national highway toll gates to setting a minister's son's office on fire, said the superintendent of Keonjhar police. On 12th January, police arrested the manager and two staff members of IndusInd Bank's Joda branch for transporting Rs. 50 lakh to Mahakud.
