From general secretary of the students’ union of Sambalpur’s GM (Autonomous) College to a conduit between Seashore Group of Companies chief Prashant Dash and the political leaders as well as bureaucrats in the State Capital, Subhankar Nayak really came a “long way.”
He initially dabbled in supply of sand and stone chips in Sambalpur after his graduation before shifting his base to Bhubaneswar, reportedly to pursue MBA, where he found what he wanted __ wealth and clout.
A native of Mudipada in Sambalpur town, Nayak, a key aide of the Seashore Group chief, was produced before the court of Special Chief Judicial Magistrate (CBI) here. The court sent him on a nine-day CBI remand during which the probe agency is likely to seek out names of people he was involved with.
It was during his stint as general secretary that Nayak had invited a former minister of the Biju Janata Dal as chief guest of the annual function of the college which apparently opened the floodgates of opportunities for him. Soon, he came in contact with a host of ministers and politicians while proximity to a senior leader brought him closer to bureaucrats, including IPS officers.
Nayak, who is charged with channeling funds of Seashore Groups, went on to enjoy such clout that influential people were soon eating out of his hand. He once allegedly forced Jharsuguda Police to make the accused of a cheque dishonour case parade before the media holding a “maha thaka” (big cheat) slate.
For someone who had no formal occupation for a living, Nayak ensured that bureaucrats turned up at the funeral rites of his maternal grandfather.
The CBI suspects him to be the front for investment of funds by the high and mighty. Nayak called the shots in transfer and posting and allegedly collected money on behalf of politicians and bureaucrats. This also gave Nayak leverage to dictate terms to them. While his friend recollect him as the little “Sobhraj”, he stayed away from Sambalpur after finding his calling.
On Tuesday, when the CBI searched his flat in the Capital, two gold biscuits and `14.63 lakh were found from his possession. Upon seeing the CBI sleuths, he is alleged to have attempted to throw the cash through his windows.
