Archana Nag Suspended by Odisha Bar Council Over Extortion Scandal
Bhubaneswar, September 18, 2025 — In a dramatic turn of events, the Odisha State Bar Council has suspended advocate Archana Nag, the central figure in a high-profile extortion and blackmail scandal that has gripped the state since 2022.
The Council’s decision, announced on Wednesday, bars Nag from practising law across Odisha pending disciplinary proceedings.
Officials cited professional misconduct, including failure to disclose pending criminal cases and falsely claiming unemployment while serving as Vice President in two companies.
Nag’s legal troubles intensified last week when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached her Rs 3.4 crore bungalow in Bhubaneswar, alleging it was purchased with proceeds of crime. Her family reportedly resisted eviction efforts following the property’s sealing.
Three criminal cases have been registered against Nag in various police stations. She and her husband, Jagabandhu Chand, were arrested in October 2022 on charges of criminal conspiracy, extortion, and blackmail. Both are currently out on bail.
Efforts to reach Nag for comment have been unsuccessful. The Bar Council confirmed she will be given a chance to present her defence during the disciplinary hearings.
