ED Raids IFS Officer Sushant Patnaik’s House in Dehradun, Finds Huge Cash Stash
Dehradun: In a shocking revelation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the house of a senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, Sushant Patnaik, on Wednesday and found a large amount of cash in his residence. The ED also ordered two note-counting machines to count the money seized from Patnaik’s house, located in Mount Crest Colony on Canal Road.
Accused of molesting a woman staffer
Sushant Patnaik, who was posted as the member secretary of the state pollution control board, was booked on Saturday for allegedly molesting a junior research fellow at his office. According to the police, the 31-year-old woman lodged a complaint on Feb 1, accusing Patnaik of making obscene gestures and attempting to rape her when she visited his office to offer condolences on his father’s death on Jan 24.
The woman also claimed that Patnaik sent her three WhatsApp messages apologizing for his behavior and later deleted them. She said that he also tried to bribe her and pressure her to withdraw the complaint through another forest officer. The woman recorded the conversation and submitted it as evidence to the police. The cyber cell also recovered the deleted messages from Patnaik’s phone.
Following the complaint, the government removed Patnaik from his post and transferred him to the forest department. The police registered a case against him under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and launched an investigation.
ED raids Sushant Patnaik’s house after tip-off
On Wednesday, the ED team reached Sushant Patnaik’s house around noon after conducting raids at the premises of former forest minister Harak Singh Rawat, who is facing a money laundering case. The ED acted on a tip-off that Patnaik had amassed huge wealth through illegal means and had stashed it in his house.
#WATCH | Dehradun: ED raids the house of IFS officer Sushant Patnaik. ED has also ordered a note-counting machine. pic.twitter.com/A5nX16T75i
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 7, 2024
The ED team searched Patnaik’s house and found several bundles of currency notes in different denominations. The team also found documents related to his properties and bank accounts. The ED officials did not allow anyone to enter or exit the house during the raid. They also prevented a maid who came to work from entering the house.
The ED team called for two note-counting machines to count the cash seized from Patnaik’s house. The exact amount of money recovered from Patnaik’s house is yet to be disclosed by the ED. The ED is also probing the source and trail of the money and whether it is linked to any other case.
A shocking case of corruption and crime
The ED raid on his house has exposed a shocking case of corruption and crime involving a senior IFS officer who was entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the environment. Patnaik, who is facing charges of molesting and trying to rape a woman staffer, is also suspected of amassing huge wealth through illegal means and hiding it in his house.
The ED raid has also raised questions about the role and accountability of the forest department and the pollution control board in the state. How did Patnaik manage to accumulate such a large amount of cash without being detected by the authorities? How did he misuse his power and position to harass and exploit a woman employee? How did he evade the law and justice for so long?
The ED raid on Patnaik’s house has shaken the public trust and confidence in the forest department and the pollution control board. It has also exposed the need for a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations against Patnaik and his assets. The ED raid has also highlighted the need for a strict and swift action against the corrupt and criminal elements in the forest department and the pollution control board.
The ED raid on Sushant’s house has also shown the courage and bravery of the woman who lodged the complaint against him and refused to succumb to his pressure and bribes. She has set an example for other women who face similar situations of harassment and exploitation at their workplaces. She has also shown the importance of speaking up and seeking justice against the perpetrators of such crimes.
The ED raid on Patnaik’s house has also revealed the role and contribution of the ED in cracking down on the cases of money laundering and corruption in the state. The ED has been conducting raids and investigations into several high-profile cases involving politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen in the state. The ED has also been cooperating with other agencies and departments in sharing information and evidence related to these cases.
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The ED raid on his house has also demonstrated the need and value of the media and the public in exposing and reporting such cases of corruption and crime. The media and the public have been following and covering the ED raid on Patnaik’s house and bringing out the facts and details of the case. The media and the public have also been raising awareness and demanding action against such cases of corruption and crime.
The ED raid on IFS Officer house has also sparked a debate and discussion on the issues of corruption and crime in the forest department and the pollution control board. The ED raid has also prompted a review and reform of the policies and practices of the forest department and the pollution control board. The ED raid has also inspired a call and campaign for a clean and green environment in the state.
