India, March 13 -- A 42-year-old Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Soumya Shankar Chakra was arrested on Thursday in mines-rich Keonjhar district on charges embezzling money from a transport cooperative society intended for the welfare of villagers affected by mining activities.

Chakra, vice president of BJD's youth wing, was taken into custody by Odisha Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) after interrogation on Thursday, said Criminal Investigation Department (CID) additional general of police Vinaytosh Mishra.

A case was registered by EOW about defalcation of funds on a complaint by a villager who lives near the Gandhamardan mines on February 7.

Mishra said Chakra was arrested following investigators came across evidence in support of a...