Arrested MLA Pradip Panigrahi Was Collecting Rs 1 Crore Extortion Money Every Month: Cong Legislator

Bhubaneswar: Congress MLA Ramesh Jena has accused arrested Gopalpur legislator Pradip Panigrahi of collecting extortion money amounting to around Rs 1 crore every month.

Speaking to media persons at his farm house near Baulajholi in Kukudakhandi about 10-km from here on Sunday, Jena said Pradip, who was expelled from party by BJD recently, has amassed huge property by misusing his power from 2004 to 2020. His properties outside Odisha should also be investigated. He has links with illegal liquor and sand mining mafia who used to pay Rs 90 lakh to 1 crore to Pradip every month, Jena added.

Jena also said several prominent persons and political leaders are involved in the corruption of Gopalpur MLA. If they are brought under the purview of the investigation, the illegal network of the legislator would come to light.

The Congress MLA of Sanakhemundi in Ganjam district further said Pradip has invested in a power plant project at Uttarakhand and at several projects in Odisha. The vehicle which Pradip rode prior to his arrest was donated by a liquor mafia. He acquired some land at Courtpeta, Bikrampurunder Karapali panchayat, Sorada and different places through illegal means. He amassed huge money for the marriage of his daughter, Jena said.

Alleging that Pradip played a prominent role in his arrest, the Ganjam district Congress committee president said, “The district police filed 54 ‘false’ cases against me in complicity with Pradip. The crime rate in Ganjam registered an upward trend after 2004 when chief minister Naveen Patnaik appointed Pradip as his representative in Hinjili.”

Jena was arrested from Berhampur for illegal possession of firearms in March, 2016. A month after his arrest, a widow had filed a police complaint alleging that Jena had raped her several times.