Troubles are mounting for Odisha-based mining businessman Ratikanta Rout as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a supplementary chargesheet against him in connection with a massive ₹341 crore illegal mining and money laundering scam.
The supplementary prosecution complaint was filed on October 16 before the Special PMLA Court in Bhubaneswar. This follows the original chargesheet filed earlier this year on July 7, which named Rout’s wife, Lakshmipriya Prusti, and several other close associates.
The ED’s money laundering probe stems from 27 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered across various police stations in Odisha against Rout. These FIRs detail severe allegations, including illegal stone quarrying, theft of minerals, dacoity, and the unauthorized supply and use of explosives. According to the central investigative agency, Rout and his affiliated business entities generated Proceeds of Crime (PoC) exceeding ₹341 crore through these illicit operations.
While Rout held a lease for minor mineral extraction in the Dhenkanal district, investigations revealed that mining activities wildly exceeded approved limits. The ED found that illegal excavations were carried out beyond the designated lease boundaries, accompanied by the unauthorized use of explosives and mineral adulteration.
To map the exact scale of the theft, the Odisha Space Applications Centre (ORSAC) conducted specialized drone and satellite surveys. The resulting data provided concrete evidence of over-extraction within the lease area and unauthorized mining activities at seven distinct locations outside the permitted zone.
The illicit funds were subsequently laundered through a complex web of bank accounts and corporate entities. The ED identified several firms utilized in this financial network, notably Maa Tarini Stone Crusher, Sai Sambhu Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, and Assurance Metalloid Exim Pvt Ltd. The investigation revealed that the tainted money was aggressively pumped into acquiring movable and immovable assets under the names of Rout, his family members, and these associated companies to mask their illegal origins.
The legal net has been tightening around Rout since January 8, 2025, when the ED launched sweeping raids across multiple locations linked to him. After months of investigation, Rout was officially arrested on August 20 and remanded to five days of ED custody by the Special Court. His bail plea was subsequently rejected on August 26, landing him in judicial custody. The ED later presented fresh evidence to the court on September 7, securing an additional four-day remand to interrogate him further. With the filing of this supplementary chargesheet, the judicial proceedings are expected to accelerate.
