Former sarpanch arrested for involvement in illegal ganja trade

Berhampur: The former sarpanch of Gajapati district's Birikote panchayat was arrested on Thursday night for his alleged involvement in the illegal ganja trade. "The accused, identified as Mosha Majhi (37), a resident of Birikote under Adava police station limits, was arrested under Section 27A of NDPS Act (financing of illegal drug trafficking and the harbouring of offenders," SDPO Rakesh Sahoo said on Friday.Mosha was the sarpanch of Birikote from 2017 to 2022 and is also a local BJD leader.Acting on a tip-off, a team of 40 police personnel, led by Sahoo, raided Mosha's house on Thursday night and seized a car worth over Rs 15 lakh, along with substantial financial and property-related documents in his and others' names. "These included 55 ATMs, six bank passbooks of different banks, five cheque books, five land records and three sketches of maps," Sahoo added. Preliminary investigation revealed that the properties which he possessed were disproportionate to the declared sources of his income. He has not filed his income tax return for the last six years, sources said. Police have also found some other illegal activities of the accused which are under investigation. "Further inquiry is underway to find out other persons involved in the ganja smuggling network in the district," Sahoo added.