India, April 2 -- In a major development in the probe into the Jajpur mining scandal, the Income Tax Department on Wednesday confiscated ten flats and a large patch of land linked to the suspected orchestrators of the illegal operation, Tapas Ranjan Panda and his associates.

According to official sources, this action is part of a broader investigation into unauthorised mining activities in the Dankari hills in the district.

Details of the confiscated properties The landed properties, situated in Ghatikia and Kalinga Nagar localities of Bhubaneswar, are suspected to be 'benami' assets-held indirectly through entities associated with Panda and his relatives. Alongside the flats, 11.2 acres of land in Athagarh have also been attached.

The...