Bhubaneswar/UNI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Thursday raided several places in Bhubaneswar and Bhadrak linked to former Odisha Minister and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Prafulla Samal, reportedly in connection with a multi-crore land scam.

The raids were conducted at the residences of Bhandaripokhari BJD MLA Prafulla Samal in Bhadrak and Bhubaneswar and also at the residence of the former principal of Barapada School of Engineering & Technology.

The raids were being carried out in the presence of central forces.

The Enforcement Directorate, however, has yet to release any statement about the raids, which sources said were linked to financial irregularities at the Bhadrak-based Barapada Engineering College, in which Samal was the chairman.