Bhubaneswar: Media baron-politician Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is scheduled to visit Sambad Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, around ten months after he stepped down as editor of the Odia daily.
A notice issued by Eastern Media Limited said that Patnaik will be visiting Sambad Bhawan at 10 am on Thursday. Members of the media group have been requested to be present at the main entrance to accord him a warm welcome.
It may be recalled that Patnaik had stepped down as ‘Sambad’ editor in October, 2023 owing to personal reasons.
Tanaya Patnaik, his daughter and executive director of Sambad Group, succeeded him as editor of the leading vernacular daily.
Patnaik, who was then an MLA from Khandapada, was removed as BJD’s vice-president in September 2023 amid his critical views on the rising influence of V K Pandian in the previous government and the party. He was later expelled from the party for anti-people activities following allegations from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which accused him of running a “meticulously organised loan scam” with Rs 50 crore loan taken from various banks using forged salary certificates of its employees.
Patnaik contested the recent elections from Ghasipura Assembly constituency as an independent candidate but lost.
