Income Tax raids at multiple properties linked to slain BJD minister Naba Kishore Das

Neither the IT department nor Das’s family issued a formal statement yet on the searches. But sources said the business and financial dealings of Das’s family are under scrutiny.

Das, a three-time MLA from Jharsuguda, was an influential minister who held the health and family welfare portfolio during former chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s fifth term. Considered one of the richest ministers then, Das had business interests in coal transportation and hospitality industry.

Das’s daughter Dipali, a former MLA from Jharsguda and son Vishal, who has been looking after the family businesses since his father’s death, were not at their Jharsuguda residence during the raids. They could not be contacted for a comment.

This comes months after the IT department had raided multiple properties linked to Braja Kishore Das, a super-class contractor and brother of Naba Kishore Das.

Naba Kishore Das was killed at a point-blank range while he was getting out of his car in Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda district on January 29, 2023. The suspect, an officer on traffic duty, allegedly had a personal grudge against the minister. In March, the Odisha Police reopened the investigation after the Das family met Chief minister Mohan Majhi to seek a new probe.