‘Forged’ HC Order Case: SC Seeks Clarification From Odisha Lokayukta

Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court has sought a clarification from the Odisha Lokayukta for allegedly submitting a forged copy of a High Court order in a case in the apex court.

The Supreme Court issued the direction after hearing a special leave petition field by Gopalpur legislator Pradeep Panigrahi and adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

In his petition, Panigrahi alleged that the Lokayukta had submitted a copy of a forged order of the High Court in a case in the SC. He appealed to the apex court to register criminal cases against Lokayukta Chairperson Justice Ajit Singh and Secretary Manas Ranjan Tripathi.

Earlier, Panigrahi had filed a contempt of court petition against the Odisha Lokayukta in the High Court on August 11. “After the High Court stated that it has never passed such an order, we had filed a petition in the Supreme Court,” said senior advocate and counsel of Pradeep Panigrahi, Pitambar Acharya.

In December last year, the Lokayukta had ordered a probe against the legislator on allegations of amassing disproportionate assets. When Panigrahi moved the High Court in February this year, the latter quashed the Lokayukta’s order.

Challenging the HC order, the Lokayukta then moved a special leave petition in the apex court allegedly attaching the non-existent HC order.

It may be noted that Panigrahi was arrested in connection with a job fraud case on December 3 last year. He was released from Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar on June 12 this year, after the HC granted bail to him.