Bhubaneswar: Following a report titled ‘#NaveenHawalaGhotala’ aired on an English TV channel, the state BJP unit on Saturday held a press conference here and demanded declassification of BJD’s financial transactions.
BJP state vice-president Sameer Mohanty said the saffron party would move the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax department for a detailed investigation into the irregularities.
The channel had alleged that large sums of money running into lakhs of rupees were deposited in the bank account of the regional part by an ordinary party worker raising questions about the source of the money. The BJD was also accused of suppressing information on election spending from Election Commission of India.
Dubbing BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s anti-graft stance a mere eyewash, Mohanty asked the state government to refrain from misleading public in the name of vigilance raid to curb corruption.
Citing a Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) number 538976288 through which the payments were allegedly made, he claimed that the money received by the ruling party through this route came from dubious sources for election spending. “The regional party also received money through another RTGS in which chit fund accused and BJD’s Mayurbhanj MP had transacted money earlier. Isn’t this the chit fund money?” he questioned.
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra expressed happiness over the exposé as his earlier attempts to hold a discussion on the issue in the House were stonewalled by the ruling party members. He had raised the issue of election funding in the floor of the House on May 4, 2016, and sought clarification on deposits in the BJD account during a discussion on chit fund scam.
Rubbishing the report, the BJD said it was not based on facts and prompted by vested interest. “The party had already made its funding public under the available legal provision and a discussion had also been held in this connection in the House, said party spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb. He termed it as a conspiracy to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the BJD.
The Exposé
According to an investigative report by Cobrapost and Times Now, there are widespread discrepancies in affidavits filed with Election Commission of India (ECI) by BJD and its candidates. Naveen Patnaik, while submitting the details of account of election expenses to the ECI in compliance of Section 77 of the Representation of the Peoples Act 1951 on oath in shape of affidavit dated June 15, 2014, submitted that he had received Rs 13,10,625 from his party vide RTGS cheque 538976288 dated April 2, 2014, which was contradictory to the statement of expenses submitted by BJD to ECI as stated in the preceding paragraph.
BJD MP from Mayurbhanj Ramchandra Hansda had received Rs 10,00,000 vide cheque no.538976288 dated May 08, 2014 from the party and this was reflected in his affidavit submitted before ECI under 77 of RP Act 1951. However, BJD submitted a statement to ECI that it had paid Rs 10,00,000 to Hansdah vide Cheque No.441666 dated May 08, 2014.
The contents that has been submitted by BJD in compliance with the direction of the Election Commission of India for filing of election expenses revealed that Naveen Patnaik had been supported with Rs 10 lakh towards his election expenses for Hinjli Assembly Constituency on 03.03.2014 vide cheque No. 441619 dated 30.3.2014. It was further stated that the said single cheque carries a value of rupees to the tune of 35 Lakh towards four candidates. In the same statement, BJD further clarified that Naveen Patnaik had returned Rs 6,48,320 to it after the final date of 2014 general election.
A sum of Rs 45 lakh was transferred through a bank cheque from BJD’s A/C no 10091755246 to eight party candidates during the general elections in 2014 through a single cheque bearing no. 441630 on 10 April 2014.
Surprisingly, Balabhadra Majhi, who represents Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency, while submitting the details of account of election expenses to the ECI dated June 16, 2014, submitted that he had received “NIL” amount from his party but BJD claimed that it had paid Rs. 7,50,000 to him.
BJD leader Rajiv Patra, who was contesting 82(ST) Assembly Constituency in Odisha, while submitting the details of account of election expenses dated June 13, 2014, submitted that he had received Rs 10,000,00 from his party in two installments of Rs 5,00,000 each. However, BJD has stated that it has extended Rs 5,00,000 to Patra.
Prafulla Kumar Pangi, who was contesting candidate from BJD for 145(ST) – Pottangi Assembly Constituency, while submitting the details of account of election expenses dated June 10, 2014, submitted that he had received Rs 5,00,00 from his party as bank deposit at Semiliguda KCC Bank on April 11, 2014. But BJD in his report in preceding paragraph stated that it had donated Rs 5,00,000 through a single cheque to eight persons including Pangi through bank transfer, signifying that BJD and its candidates, including its President Naveen Patnaik and officials had submitted misleading information willfully to ECI.
Hema Gomago (the wife of former Chief Minister Giridhar Gomango), who fought from BJD, filed affidavit on dated 12 June 2014, and submitted that she had received Rs 8 Lakh from her party. She had received Rs 3 lakh in cash on March 28, 2014. She also received through bank transfer of Rs 5 lakh in two installments (3L+2L) on 4 April and 5 April the same year respectively. The BJD concealed its payment to Gomango vide letter No.729/BJD/2014 dated July 28, 2014 while submitting election expenses to ECI, which is mandatory.
BJD’s Bhubaneswar Kishan from Kuchinda assembly constituency filed an affidavit on 13th June 2014 and said he had not received any money from his party BJD in cash or cheque. But BJD in its July 28 letter to ECI stated it has paid its candidate Rs 5 lakh through a cheque no. 441666 which was issued to 12 persons. including Kisan, on May 8, 2014.
BJD informed ECI that it has paid Binoy Kumar Toppo Rs 5 lakh towards his election expenses on May 8, 2014 vide SBI cheque 441666. But by affidavit Toppo said he had received 10 lakh in two installments. On 22 March, he received cash amounting to Rs 5 lakh. Further, he received on May 8, 2014 Rs 5 lakh through a PNB cheque (006200).
Sakuntala Laguri (MP elected from Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency ) filed affidavit on 11 June 2014 and stated therein that she had received Rs 18,62,720 in three installments. But BJD said it had paid her only Rs 5 lakh.
Jhina Hikala on affidavit (14 June 2016) stated that he had received Rs 10 Lakh from BJD’s SBI secretariat account bearing cheque no.53896288 on dated 2 April 2014. BJD, on the other hand, said it had paid him Rs 10 lakh vide cheque 441619 (from SBI’s Rajapath Branch) dated 03.03.2014, along with three others, including party chief Naveen Patnaik.
Rita Tarai said the party spent Rs 13,88,28 (Rs 10 lakh through RTGS dated 2 April 2014 and Rs 3,88,284 for poster/flex, but the party insisted it had paid only Rs 10 lakhs to her by cheque.
Dambaru Sisa, the MLA from Malakangiri District, stated on affidavit dated 10.06.2014 that he had not received any money from his party for election expenses. Contrary to his claims, BJD stated that it had paid Rs 5 lakh towards his election expense vide cheque 441618/29.3.2014.
The report said it was not merely the anonymous donations to the party or its candidates that make these transactions less than honourable, but the fact that many candidates received money from chit-fund operators. According to the affidavits of Papu Pom Pom submitted before ECI, he had received the donation and loan of Rs 3.94 lakh from Prabhas Rout, who is chief of the OSCAR chit fund and currently in judicial custody. Papu had mentioned in the affidavit during submission of nomination papers that he received Rs 2.5 lakh as loan from Rout. Furthermore, he had also mentioned in the election expenditure affidavit that he received Rs 1.44 lakh as a donation from Rout.
Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo received donation of Rs 2.5 lakh from Manisa Singh, director of Seashore chit fund, which under CBI scanner. Manisa’s Dalvir Singh relative also paid Rs 1.5 lakh.
