Former MLA demands inquiry into "false affidavit" by Orissa Minister

Bhubaneswar, Jun 25 (UNI) Former MLA Rabi Narayan Panigrahi today demanded that Orissa Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Sanjeeb Kumar Sahu be taken to task for filing false affidavit during filing of nomination papers.

Addressing newsmen here, Mr Panigrahi said there has been lot of discrepancies in the affidavits filed by Mr Sahu during the 2003 byelections and 2004 General Assembly elections.

He said Mr Sahu had filed affidavits during the byelections to Birmaharajpur Assembly seat on October 5,2003, and again another affidavit on March 31, 2004, for filing nomination for the 2004 Assembly elections.

A detailed study of these two affidavits clearly indicated that Mr Sahu had amassed huge wealth within a period of six months, the former MLA said and dashed letters to the Director General of Vigilance and the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct an inquiry and take appropriate action against the Minister.

In his letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Panigrahi said an inquiry be conducted into the affidavits submitted by Mr Sahu and he should be taken to task by forfeiting his seat for giving false affidavit before the Returning Officer.

Mr Panigrahi also distributed the copies of the affidavits, submitted by the Minister in both byelections and General elections held within six months, and demanded that the Returning Officer should initiate action against Mr Sahu.

The former MLA said if the Sub-Collector failed to take any action against the Minister, he would be forced to move the High Court and seek the Governor's intervention into the matter.

The Minister was, however, not available for his comment on the allegation levelled against him by Mr Panigrahi.

UNI DP SJC/SRC1637