Maharathy Funeral: Complaint Filed Against 2 Ministers In Bhubaneswar For Flouting COVID-19 Norms

odisha ministers complaint covid-19 violation

Bhubaneswar: Jagannath Sena filed a complaint with police against another minister on Saturday alleging violation of COVID-19 regulations during the funeral of BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy in Puri.

The Sena, which had filed a complaint against School and Mass Education minister Samir Ranjan Dash in Puri, accused Tourism minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi of similar charges in the complaint lodged at Kharvel Nagar police station here.

Convenor of Jagannath Sena, Priyadarshan Patnaik said as Puri police did not accept the FIR against Panigrahi, they approached Kharabela Nagar Police and hoped action will be taken against the ministers.

He said the complaints were filed against the two ministers for attending the funeral of Maharathy at Puri Swargadwar despite having been tested positive for COVID-19.

On October 5, the Sena had filed an FIR against Dash and Satyabadi MLA Umakanta Samantaray at Puri Sea Beach Police Station for similarly flouting COVID-19 norms.

On Friday, Sea Beach Police registered a case against him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 269 (unlawfully or negligently spreading infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and under section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act.

Also Read: Booked For COVID Norms Violation, Odisha Legislator Accepts Mistake & Apologises