BJD expels MLA, Odisha vigilance suspects links with 'corrupt' IFS officer and his son

BHUBANESWAR: BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday expelled Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy (57) for his alleged ‘anti-people’ activities. Though the BJD did not spell out the specific charges against Panigrahy, sources said the former minister was shown the door for his alleged links with Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer AbhayKant Pathak and his son Akash, who were arrested by the state vigilance on Friday for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 9.35 crore.
“By the order of BJD president, Gopalpur MLAPradeep Panigrahy is expelled from the primary membership of the party with immediate effect for his anti-people activities,” read a BJD statement sent by party general secretary (media affairs) Manas Mangaraj.
Official sources said the state vigilance received complaints that Panigrahy, a three-time MLA and former minister, had allegedly abused his position and reportedly extended political patronage to the IFS officer and his son that helped them carry out illegal activities. Panigrahy also came under the scanner for allegedly accompanying Pathak and his son in several air travels by chartered flights in recent past.
“We received allegations that Akash had impersonated a senior officer of Tata Motors and conducted a recruitment drive. Most of the applicants were from Ganjam district. Tata Motors denied Akash was their employee. We are verifying the MLA’s complicity in the case,” a vigilance officer said. Sources said the vigilance may interrogate Panigrahy in the days to come.
Panigrahy said he was never involved in anti-people or anti-party activities. “I have not committed anything wrong. I was not involved in any corrupt activities,” Panigrahy told the media.
He claimed the expulsion could be because he had raised his voice against Covid-19 mismanagement in the district. Notably, Panigrahy had also expressed his displeasure on "monopoly of bureauctrats" in Ganjam and their reluctance to take him into confidence for smooth Covid-19 management.
“I had written a series of letters to chief minister Naveen Patnaik as well as other senior government officers on Covid-19 mismanagement and issues of migrant returnees in Ganjam district,” said Panigrahy, adding that this could have angered some leaders in the party.
The former minister also vouched for Abhay Kant and his son Akash. “Abhay Kant is one of the best officers in the state. Akash is highly qualified. My daughter is scheduled to marry Akash,” Panigrahy said.
It must be mentioned here that this was the first time the BJD expelled a leader on grounds of ‘anti people’ activities. In all previous actions, the BJD had cited ‘anti-party’ activities as the reason for their suspension or expulsion.
The action against Panigrahy comes amid testing times for the BJD, which is already feeling the heat from opposition BJP and Congress over cabinet minister Arun Sahoo’s alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of a 5-year-old girl in Nayagarh district.
The BJD, meanwhile, has refuted opposition allegations that the action against Panigrahy was a ploy to divert attention from the Nayagarh case. “BJD president Naveen Patnaik must have received credible inputs about Panigrahy’s misdeeds and has hence expelled him. Naveen has always showed zero tolerance against corrupt and unscrupulous persons in the party and government,” BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said.