Bhubaneswar, Feb. 18 -- Achyuta Samanta's rise from a laboratory assistant to a major player in the education sector is now under scrutiny amid allegations of misuse of power during his tenure supported by the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led government in Odisha.

Critics argue that Samanta's swift ascent involved acquiring numerous land holdings for his educational empire through questionable means. While accusations of land scams were frequently directed towards him, these were never formally investigated, leaving a trail of suspicion.

Opponents allege that the former MP had used his political and administrative influence to incrementally procure land under the guise of expanding educational facilities, at times taking advantage of ...