BJD calls for Odisha Mines Minister’s removing after ED raids on his consultant

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday (January 19, 2026) demanded State Metal and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena’s resignation, citing ED raids at his designated consultant’s premises over his involvement in unlawful and unauthorized excavation and sale of minor minerals in Ganjam district.

BJD chief Lenin Mohanty, in a press convention, mentioned the latest ED raids in Ganjam clearly established the Mines Minister Jena’s personal consultant’s involvement in sand theft, thereby exposing his position within the matter.

“In a proper letter addressed to the Ganjam district collector, the Mines Minister had licensed Sunil Patra as his consultant within the mining, police and courtroom departments. After Sunil Patra’s involvement in unlawful sand mining was uncovered throughout the ED raid, the Minister’s direct affiliation with the criminal activity turned evident,” Mr. Mohanty claimed.

Incidents of sand and mineral theft had risen sharply in Odisha for the reason that BJP got here to energy, Mr. Mohanty added. “The BJD has constantly identified that such theft is going down with the lively encouragement of the ruling get together,” he mentioned.

Citing official figures, the BJD mentioned income from minor minerals had fallen steeply from ₹1,485 crore in 2023–24 to ₹600 crore in 2024–25. Equally, income from main minerals declined from ₹50,000 crore to ₹34,000 crore throughout the identical interval.

“This income loss is extraordinarily unlucky for the State. Rampant sand and mineral theft has additionally led to a pointy enhance within the costs of key development supplies,” the get together mentioned.

Regardless of repeated representations and calls for for strict motion, the federal government had remained inactive and detached, Mr. Mohanty added. The regional get together reiterated its demand for Mr. Jena’s instant removing from the Council of Ministers.

The ED’s Bhubaneswar Zonal Workplace had carried out an in depth search operation. below the provisions of Prevention of Cash Laundering Act, 2002, at greater than 25 premises throughout Ganjam district linked to people concerned in unlawful sand and black stone mining, in addition to contractors and proprietors related to nation liquor (Bhati) operations.

“Throughout the search, money amounting to ₹2.63 crore together with a number of incriminating paperwork, substantial property information, and agreements together with energy agreements and mining leases executed by the people in query have been discovered and seized. A number of excessive finish nameless autos have been unearthed within the search motion which have been obtained by way of the proceedings of crime,” the company mentioned in a press release.

As per the ED, the premises coated have been linked to brokers, syndicates having critical legal antecedents and different linked enterprise companions of them. “Individuals who, through the use of their muscle powers forcibly conducting unlawful mining and sale of minor minerals by exploiting and terrorizing folks of their areas have been additionally raided,” it mentioned.

The Comptroller and Auditor Normal had additionally flagged rampant unlawful mining alongside the river mattress of Rushikulya, Bahuda, and Bada River in Ganjam district inflicting big loss to authorities exchequer.

The modus operandi indicated that mining leases have been obtained below the names of varied leaseholders illegally and forcefully by syndicate associates by providing a fee at a predetermined fee, mentioned ED.

“Mining licenses which might be issued within the names of different leaseholders should not transferable and prohibited below regulation. This unauthorized utilization of licenses that are within the identify of the opposite lease holders, enable members of the syndicate to extract extra sand or blackstone than permitted by authorities rules,” it elaborated.