Court Orders Criminal Case Against Baijayant Panda In False Election Affidavit Case

Kendrapara/Bhubaneswar: A court in Kendrapara on Thursday directed the police to register a criminal case against suspended BJD MP Baijayant Panda for filing a false affidavit during the 2014 general elections.

The Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) in Kendarapara directed the police to register the case under section 125-A of the Representation of People Act and u/s-415/416/417/418/419/420 of the IPC by July 25, 2018.

According to the case, Panda had deliberately suppressed the fact that he was working as Vice Chairman of IMFA, a mining company and drawing salary in crores.

Legal experts said conviction could lead to imprisonment for a term which may be extended to six months or fine or with both (Section 125 A of the Representation of Peoples Act), imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine (Section 420 of IPC) or he would be debarred from contesting elections for six years.

The development comes as a major jolt for the two-time Kendrapara MP. The ruling BJD has earlier alleged that Panda, who was suspended from the Naveen Patnaik led party in January, of filing false affidavit and cheating the voters regarding his involvement in the mining industry.

Panda is yet to give his comment on the court’s order.