On September 12, 2023, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) filed a complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) against Uma Sankar Patro, Director of M/s GDS Builders Pvt. Ltd., Ashwini Kumar Patra, the former Assistant Manager at Union Bank of India’s Nayapally Branch in Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar Mohapatra, the former Branch Head there, and M/s Dwarka Jewel The Prosecution Complaint has been acknowledged by the Honourable Court.
The ED opened an inquiry based on FIRs filed by the CBI, ACB, Bhubaneswar, Odisha about the misuse of housing loans against Uma Sankar Patro, bank executives, borrowers, and the real estate business. These FIRs were filed under different sections of the IPC, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
On May 18, 2023, the ED conducted search operations at eight locations belonging to Uma Sankar Patro and his connected individuals in accordance with the PMLA, 2002, and confiscated Indian currency worth Rs. 15 Lakhs and gold jewellery worth Rs. 1.13 Crore. On May 29, 2023, a Provisional Attachment Order was also issued in the case, attaching properties worth Rs. 19.67 crore (properties located in Puri and Bhubaneswar).
From July 18 to July 22, 2023, Ashwini Kumar Patra, the Union Bank of India’s then assistant manager, was detained by the ED, during which time more damning evidence was acquired. Further research is now being conducted.
