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Former minister Jena convicted in Orissa

A former minister of Orissa was convicted and sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 by a special vigilance court on Monday.

Former urban development minister Bata Krushna Jena was convicted for possessing property disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The court also ruled six months rigorous imprisonment in default of non-payment of the fine.

Jena was a minister in the Congress Government led by J B Patnaik in 1985-90. He was one of 11 former minister charge-sheeted by the vigilance department under the Prevention of Corruption Act during the rule of the Janata Dal Government led by late Biju Patnaik from 1990 to 1995.

Jena is the second former minister to be convicted after Sharat Rout.

Rout has moved the high court against the judgement.

The state vigilance had registered a case against Jena on September 30,1990 under Section 13(2) and 13(!) (E) of the PCA for possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income.

In 1991, Jena was charge-sheeted following a series of raids on Jena's houses and those of his relatives. Vigilance sleuths has unearthed disproportionate property to the tune of Rs 8.11 lakh.

Earlier, though the case was tried by a special court, it was later handed over to the court of the special judge (vigilance) as the Congress government abolished special courts after coming to power in 1995. The special court was set up during the regime of the Janata Dal led by Biju Patnaik.

In Jena's case, the state vigilance examined 20 witnesses and 118 documents were exhibited.

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