Berhampur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday demanded inclusion of chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Forest minister Bikram Arukh in the purview of the case against Gopalpur MLA Pradip Panigrahi.
Speaking to media persons, Ganjam unit president of the BJP Bibhuti Jena alleged that Panigrahi deliberately used the ruling BJD for his corrupt activities for the last 20 years and the chief minister must be aware of it. Panigrahi patronised Pradip Sethi, CEO of Arthatatwa chit fund firm who is now lodged in jail for cheating depositors crores of rupees, Jena added.
Though Naveen dropped Panigrahi from the council of ministers in 2017, he rehabilitated the MLA as the president of Ganjam BJD district unit later.
Jena also said the chief minister had introduced Panigrahi to Tata Group head Ratan Tata at ‘Jaga Mission’ in Chatrapur in 2018. It further helped the MLA swindle crores of rupees from public on the plea of providing them jobs in Tata company.
The BJP leader further alleged that though Panigrahi owned plots, houses and apartments worth crores of rupees, he was staying in a rented house in Courtpeta, Berhampur as a political gimmick.
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