Jajpur: A controversy has erupted over legal status and the activities at Balle Balle Dhaba and Family Restaurant at Dharmasala in Odisha’s Jajpur district, which was vacated after the district administration sealed it on Saturday.
The administration took the step after newly-elected Dharmasala MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo found irregularities in the functioning of the dhaba during a review of block development works recently.
While the restaurant was reportedly run by an actress-turned-BJD leader, it is alleged that former BJD MLA from Dharmasala Pranab Balabantaray was managing the show from behind the scenes. It is also alleged that the dhaba has been illegally constructed on the premises of Dharmasala Bhawan. In fact, the Bhawan was built to host cultural and social functions of the local people. Bhawan itself in shrouded in controversy as it stands on ‘gochar’ (pasture) land.
Besides, its rent for organising a marriage function has gone up from Rs 4,000 to Rs 65,000 which is beyond affordability of common people.
While Balabantaray had reportedly handed over the management of the dhaba to the BJD leader on lease, there is no legal document to substantiate. Similarly, no papers about official permission to run the facility has come to light.
Meanwhile, the local people have come up with various allegations about the functioning of the dhaba. It is said that the building was operating as dhaba in the day time. But at night, it turned into a place of entertainment for BJD leaders and ministers. Many girls from outside have reportedly been found staying in the rooms above the dhaba at night.
While neither Balabantaray nor the woman BJD leader has issued any statement on the matter, a high-level investigation has been demanded to unravel the truth.