Police Case Against Congress’ Odisha In-Charge, Ex-PCC President Over ‘Cheating’ Allegation

Bhubaneswar: A police case has been slapped against three senior Congress leaders in Odisha over allegation of fraud and cheating during campaign for the last elections.

As per sources, a case has been filed at the Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar against AICC in-charge for Odisha Ajoy Kumar, former OPCC president Sarat Kumar Pattanayak and state leader Biswaranjan Mohanty over fraud charges.

Based on a complaint filed by Ashutosh Mohapatra from Bhubaneswar, the police have filed a case against them under Section 120-B, 420, 506 and 34 of IPC. The police also filed the case against the State Congress leader Biswaranjan Mohanty.

The complainant, stated to be in the business providing LED TVs and vehicles for campaign purposes, claimed that there was a discussion with the Congress state in-charge and the then OPCC president and a deal was finalised Rs 1.50 crore.

He further stated in the complaint that the two leaders gave him an advance of Rs 8 lakh and assured him to pay the balance Rs 1.42 crore after the elections.

When the complainant met the two Congress leaders after the elections and asked for the balance amount, they asked him to meet in their residence. But the complainant insisted them to pay the rest Rs 1.42 crore immediately. He alleged that Kumar and Pattanayak threatened him when he insisted on payment.

He further alleged that when he met the Congress leaders again later, Mohanty, who was present, kicked and threatened him.

The complainant initially approached the Bharatpur Police Station to file an FIR but his effort failed to yield any positive result. Mohapatra then approached the Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class for an intervention. Following the directive of the JMFC court, the Bharatpur Police lodged a case in this matter.

Mohapatra stated in his complaint that the three Congress leaders had made a conspiracy and grabbed the money sanctioned to him through the AICC.