Bhubaneswar, May 14: The court of SDJM Bhubaneswar today ordered the release of frozen amount of Rs 20 lakh in favour of wife of Tapan Kumar Mohanty, a fraud victim.

Mohanty was duped of Rs 50 lakh on pretext of sale of Nilachal Ashok hotel of ITDC at Puri. The victim is still in vegetative state and bed ridden.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) had earlier arrested Anikesh Sahu and Chandan Akash Mohanty in the case while another accused Bikash Moharanahad surrendered before the court.

Anikesh along with Chandan , ex-contractual Assistant Engineer in OTDC, and another accomplice impersonated as as senior officials of ITDC and authorised by Secretary, Tourism made a false agreement with Mohanty to sale Nilachal Ashok Hotel of ITDC at Puri.

The accused persuaded the victim to purchase the hotel for an amount of Rs 15 crores including Rs 3 crores as under the table deal.

The accused collected more than Rs 50 lakhs from Mohanty through bank account as well as in cash. In order to win the trust, the accused persons first made him to deposit Rs 20 lakhs in the official account of ITDC maintained at Delhi but took Rs 30 lakhs in cash in order to pursue the matter. However, subsequently, when he did not get any communication from ITDC Ltd., he smelled the fraud.