Bhubaneswar: The Income Tax (I-T) department on Sunday raided the residence of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former Komna block chairman Manoj Mishra in Odisha’s Nuapada district.
According to sources, the raid began at around 6 am and the entrance to the house was sealed to prevent any unauthorised movement while the operation was underway. The I-T team examined financial records, documents, and electronic equipment, besides bank-related documents, property papers, and possible cash holdings.
Mishra, who also serves as one of the general secretaries in the BJD’s Nuapada district unit, was reportedly present at the time of the search.
The department, however, has not issued any official statement on the raid.
The raid on the last day of campaigning for the November 11 bypoll, however, has raised eyebrows.
Interestingly, Mishra had emerged as the frontrunner for BJD ticket for the Nuapada by-election after its probable candidate Jay Dholakia switched sides to BJP weeks after his father and late sitting MLA Rajendra Dholakia’s death, which necessitated the bypoll. However, the regional party picked two-time Attabira MLA Snehangini Chhuria, who was the party’s observer for Nuapada district for four years, as a compromise formula to prevent further dissension and project a united face during electioneering.
Previous Raids
Political temperature had soared in the constituency on October 31 when the rented accommodation of former minister and senior BJD leader Pritiranjan Gharai, currently supervising the party’s campaign, at Khariar Road was searched by a magistrate, following allegations of illegal cash being stashed on the premises. Though no incriminating material or cash was seized, the action sparked a strong protest from BJD workers who questioned the timing of the raid.
Earlier searches at the Congress office in Nuapada also drew criticism from opposition parties over alleged bias in enforcement actions.
The BJP across states has been accused in the past of resorting to its usual modus operandi of targeting opposition leaders and people linked to them around any important elections.