Balasore: The Odisha BJP has filed a criminal defamation suit against Sitanshu Dwivedi, the lawyer BJD leader Soumya Shankar (Raja) Chakra arrested in connection with a multi-crore financial fraud case.
Dwivedi had earlier claimed that Rs 1.3 crore was transferred to the party’s account from Gandhamardan Loading Agency and Transporting Cooperative Society Limited through cash and bank transfer.
“A month ago, Dwivedi accused me and my colleagues of pressuring him to deposit Rs 1.3 crore with the BJP leadership before the party came to power in the state. I don’t know his intentions behind the false accusation, but I have filed a criminal defamation case in the SDJM court. I was here to submit my statement,” state BJP president Manmohan Samal told reporters on Saturday.
He claimed that it is a concocted story and the claims are false and malicious. “It is aimed at tarnishing the party image. He has to prove his claims and alleged bank transactions,” he said.
Also Read: BJP Responds To ‘Rs 1.32 Cr Bribe Demand’ From Arrested BJD Leader Raja Chakra
Chakra is accused of orchestrating financial irregularities amounting to multiple crores of rupees from the Gandhamardan Loading Agency and Transporting Cooperative Society Limited between 2017-18 and 2023-24. The cooperative society managed iron ore loading for state-owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).
