False Election Affidavit: Police Register Case Against Baijayant Panda

Baijayant Panda

Kendrapara: Police on Friday registered a criminal case against suspended Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Baijayant Panda at the Town Police Station here for allegedly filing a false affidavit during the 2014 general elections.

Police have registered a case against him under Section 125 (A) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and Sections 415, 416, 417, 418, 419 and 420 of the IPC.

The criminal case was registered by the police following orders from the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court, Kendrapara, on Thursday.

According to the case, the MP 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 extended to six months or fine or both (Section 125 A of the Representation of Peoples Act), imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and he shall also be liable to fine (Section 420 of IPC) or he could 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 accused 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.