74 Cops Protection To BJD Leader V K Pandian Takes Political Turn In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Security provided to BJD leader V K Pandian has become a political issue ahead of elections in Odisha with the BJP moving the Chief Electoral Officer (CEC) here, alleging that such huge deployment using public money violates model code.

The Opposition party’s memorandum came a day after the Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan, a forum for State’s RTI activists, claimed that 74 police personnel were deployed for the protection of Pandian, who currently holds a cabinet rank. Two sub-inspectors, 11 havildars, 53 constables and sepoys and four women constables have reportedly been engaged for the security of the bureaucrat-turned-politician. His squad of 74 personnel outstrips even Z+ cover of 55 guards.

The BJP has questioned the rationale behind deploying 74 police staff to guard his residential accommodation amid a shortage of manpower. “It is not known if there is any security threat to V K Pandian. It is also not known if he had requested for security and guarding his official residence. Our concern pertains to huge expenditure from the public exchequer to promote and support political activities of BID,” the memorandum said.

As controversy shrouds the issue, the Commissionerate of Police has said that there is no veracity in the claim. “We have not supplied any information under the RTI Act that talks about security cover provided to 5T chairman to the applicant,” Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh was quoted as saying.

The BJD has not commented on the issue.