Returning Officer files case against Congress MLA

Puri, Aug 10 (UNI) Puri Sub-Collector Bijay Kumar Naik has filed a complaint case in the court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) here against sitting Congress MLA L B Mahapatra for suppressing facts during filing of nomination.

Mr Naik alleged that the involvement of Mr Mohapatra in a criminal case pending trial was not mentioned in the mandatory affidavit filed along with the nomination paper with the returning officer during the 2004 Assembly elections.

The case was filed yesterday by Mr Naik.

The matter was pointed out by his rival Biju Janata Dal (BJD) nominee S D Dasburma in a written complaint before the Sub-Collector.

The Chief Electoral Officer on being informed about the incident had conducted an inquiry into the allegation. It was revealed that Mahapatra alongwith some others were rounded up by the forest officials, while allegedly poaching in a forest in Angul.

A vehicle and gun were seized from their possession and they were booked under various sections of Wildlife Protection Act.

Later Mr Mahapatra was released on bail from the SDJM court, Angul on May 11, 2000.

UNI XC DP BA LL KP2328