Search the Internet           Tips

Criminal case against expelled BJD leader

Mahapatra held the water resources development portfolio in the Biju Patnaik ministry between 1990 and 1995, the sources said. He had been accused of criminal conspiracy and showing undue favour in the excavation work of the right main canal of the Upper Indravati project thereby causing loss to the state exchequer and corresponding gain to a private contractor, they informed.

Besides Mahapatra, a senior Indian Administrative Service officer Madan Mohanty, who was secretary in the water resources development department during the period, a chief engineer, a superintending engineer, an executive engineer and the additional financial advisor of the department as well as the contractor have been named accused in the case.

Mahapatra, who was a founding member of the BJD, was expelled from the party in the run-up to the last assembly elections in the state following differences with party president Naveen Patnaik.

The former minister sharply reacted to the institution of criminal case against him by the state government and said, "Instead of fighting the Congress and taking up reconstruction measures in cyclone-hit districts, the government has chosen to fight against me."

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should devote his time for the welfare of the state, he said.

Mahapatra, who has called a convention of his supporters in Bhubaneswar on October 11 to announce launching of a new outfit, described the vigilance case against him as a panic reaction of the government.

He said the convention and other future programmes would not be affected by this vindictive action.

Tell us what you think of this report