Orissa BJP Minister in soup over false affidavit

Bhubaneswar, Apr 28 (UNI) Orissa Minister of State for Labour and Employment Pradeep Nayak has been accused of submitting a false affidavit while filing nomination on criminal cases pending against him.

State Chief Electoral Officer Alaka Panda today confirmed that the minister had given false affidavit during the filing of nomination that no criminal cases were pending against him.

On verification, it was found that some criminal cases were still pending against him while filing nomination in 2004 Assembly elections from Bhawanipatna constituency.

Ms Panda said since filing of false affidavit was an offence under the Peoples of Representative Act, she had asked the appropriate authority to take necessary action.

The minister said he was not aware of any criminal cases pending against him during the filing of nomination papers.

Mr Naik said he had not deliberately made any false affidavit during the nomination as he had neither received any summon from the court or any police stations before filing of nomination.

The Minister, however, said being people's representative, he had democratically participated in some agitational programmes and gheraoed some officers for the cause of the people.

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