Political Debate In Odisha Over CBI Summons To IAS Officer Bishnupada Sethi In Bribery Case

Bhubaneswar: Summons issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to senior IAS officer of Odisha Bishnupada Sethi in connection with a bribery case appeared to have triggered an intense political debate in the state.

While Congress leaders expressed scepticism over the outcome in the probe by the central agency in the bribery case involving Rs ten lakh, main opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD)

Speaking on the CBI summons to Sethi, senior Congress leader Jayadev Jena expressed doubt over the effectiveness of the summons issued by the central probe agency and claimed that no concrete action is expected in the case.

Claiming that the hype being created now may gradually lose stem and die down, he said nothing will happen finally.

Noting that Bishnupada Sethi is a senior IAS officer, the Congress leader told reporters that corruption cases that cropped up during the previous BJD regime were later neutralised by the BJP and the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

The much-hyped bribery case is going to meet the same fate and no action will be taken against real culprits, Jena claimed.

Senior BJD leader Sudhir Samal pointed out that the Vigilance department in the state cracked down on corrupt officials during the previous government which adopted a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ towards any form of financial irregularities.

As the BJP boasts about its ‘double-engine’ government, it should intensify the drive against corruption, he said.

The BJD leader also cited the action taken against a senior IAS officer in ORHDC scam in the state. He said cases involving corruption and financial irregularities must be disposed of expeditiously without any undue delay.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserted that the party’s government in the state is determined to take stringent action against anyone, including bureaucrats and political leaders, if found involved in corrupt practices.

The Mohan Majhi government will not tolerate any form of corruption as it has adopted a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ against irregularities, BJP MLA from Bhubaneswar-Ekamra Babu Singh said, adding that no corrupt leader and official will be allowed to go scot-free.

Noting that the BJD ruled the state for 24 years, he claimed that corruption spread its tentacles in all spheres during the previous government making people suffocated in the state.

Stringent action will be taken against anyone found involved in corruption as the Chief Minister has made it clear that corrupt people, including officials and political leaders, will find their place only in jails, the legislator said.