Odisha: RTI Activists Booked For ‘Fake Info’ On V K Pandian Security

Bhubaneswar: Three persons have been booked on charges of circulating fake and misleading information about security cover provided to BJD leader and Nabin Odisha chairman V K Pandian.

A case has been registered against Prakash Das, Srikant Pakal and Pradip Pradhan of Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA), a forum for state’s RTI activists, at Saheed Nagar police under IPC sections, including those of cheating and forgery, as well as the Information Technology Act.

The trio had claimed unprecedented allocation of security personnel to protect Pandian at a press conference on March 29, citing a undated letter received through RTI from the Commissionerate Police. They said that his squad of 74 personnel outstripped even Z+ cover of 55 guards. Following which, BJP moved poll authorities, seeking withdrawal of “unnecessary security benefits” given to Pandian.

At a presser on Wednesday, Twin City Commissioner of Police Sanjeeb Panda called the letter forged and fabricated. “We have supplied no information under the RTI Act about security cover provided to 5T chairman as being claimed by the RTI activists. A case has been registered and investigation is on,” he said.

Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh had also earlier told the media that there was no veracity in the claim.