The Raurkela Circuit House has found itself at the centre of a major controversy following a viral video posted by an adult film star, Tina Nandi, prompting a sweeping police investigation into the misuse of government facilities and a fraudulent trading enterprise.
The controversy erupted when Nandi shared a video reflecting on her stay at the newly upgraded Raurkela Circuit House on December 1, 2025. In the footage, she praised the state-guest facility and casually mentioned an upcoming meeting with a Superintendent of Police (SP) and his son.
Fact-checkers and local authorities quickly realised the sensitive nature of the claims: the SP named by Nandi was actually the late Prasanna Kumar Mohanty, a retired Vigilance SP who tragically passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unravelling the Web
According to police findings, Nandi’s visit to Raurkela was orchestrated to promote a gold product for Gehana Trade Gold Private Limited, located on Kachery Road. The company’s director, Edwin Martin Nayar, had invited the influencer for a promotional launch.
To facilitate her stay, arrangements at the exclusive government Circuit House were allegedly made through Ashish Mohanty—the son of the late retired SP—utilising staff member Abhishek Das. Transportation was also provided, with Nandi picked up from the Jharsuguda Airport in an Audi car owned by Subhendu Panda, acting on instructions from Ashish Mohanty.
Police Crackdown and Ongoing Manhunt
As the video gained traction online in September 2026, it raised serious questions regarding how private individuals and commercial promoters managed to secure rooms in a restricted government guest house without proper clearance.
Local law enforcement has since stepped in. Police have detained Ashish Mohanty and Audi car owner Subhendu Panda for intense questioning regarding their roles in facilitating the stay. Meanwhile, Edwin Martin Nayar, the director of the trading company, has gone into hiding and remains at large as authorities widen their investigation into the network.
