Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has lodged a formal complaint with Bhubaneswar’s Cyber police station against unknown individuals for allegedly circulating a forged letter, claiming suspension of former Simulia MLA Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi from the party.
According to the complaint, misleading information is being widely shared on social media platforms, including Facebook, falsely claiming that Panigrahi, a two-time MLA from Simulia in Balasore district who represented the BJD in the Odisha Assembly from 2014 and 2019, has been suspended from the party. It termed the suspension order, purportedly issued on official BJD letterhead, as fabricated and intended to damage the party’s reputation and confuse its workers and supporters.
The complaint further noted that the fake content is being disseminated by unidentified persons and groups with the deliberate aim
of misleading the public. It specifically points to a Facebook page named “MLADHAMNAGAR” and a post shared by Muktikanta Swain, identified as the District IT and social media president of the BJP in Kendrapada with around 9,000 followers. “Such acts amount to cybercrime, forgery, impersonation, and the spreading of fake news, which are punishable under relevant provisions of law,” it added.
The BJD has urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation, identify and arrest those responsible for creating and circulating the fake letter and misleading information. “Kindly treat this matter as urgent, in the interest of public order, and to prevent the further spread of false information,” it added.
Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi resigned from the BJD in May 2024 after the party nominated Subhasini Sahoo, wife of Shashi Kumar Sahoo who unsuccessfully contested from the seat on a BJP ticket in 2014, during the 2024 elections. Jyoti was first elected in 2014 from the seat, which he retained in 2019 by defeating Padmalochan Panda of BJP.
Though he later reaffirmed his association with the party, no official suspension from the BJD was announced by the party leadership.
Police, however, are yet to confirm whether a case has been registered on the basis of the complaint.