Bhubaneswar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hit out at Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over the arrest of IIC of Boipariguda Police Station, Sushant Satpathy with Rs 37 lakh cash four months after his promotion, and accused it of having links with the accused cop.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, state BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal claimed that the arrested police official, who enjoyed the support of BJD leaders, was involved in ganja trafficking and job scam. The tainted policeman also had Ollywood links.
Claiming that Satpathy has reportedly acted in some Odia movies, he said the arrested cop was also understood to have invested black money in Odia cinemas.
Raising questions over Satpathy’s Ollywood link, the BJP leader sought to know whether the accused got an opportunity to act in Odia cinema starred by a BJD MP using his black money.
Satpathy, who was once suspended before becoming an IIC, had also been posted for some time in Naveen Niwas, the Chief Minister’s residence, he claimed.
Biswal sought to know as to who recommended Satpathy’s posting at Naveen Niwas despite departmental proceedings against him.
Though departmental proceedings were initiated against the accused on the directions of SPs of three districts, no action was taken, the BJP leader claimed, adding that Satpathy was promoted to the rank of IIC in 2023 despite black spots in his service records. He was arrested barely four months after being promoted.
While Jagatsinghpur SP had ordered departmental proceedings against Satpathy in 2012. Cuttack SP had issued a similar order in 2018. Later, Rayagada SP had suspended Satpathy in 2020 after reprimanding him, the BJP leader claimed.
It is suspected that Satpathy had the blessings of influential ruling BJD leaders, Biswal said, seeking probe into the alleged role of a Minister from Cuttack district and an MLA and former Minister from Nayagarh in backing the nefarious activities of Satpathy.
Notably, Vigilance arrested Satpathy after he failed to give a satisfactory account of cash to the tune of Rs 37 lakh which was recovered during search operatikons in his official residence, office chamber at Boipariguda and his quarters in Cuttack on Tuesday.
