By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: S Priyadarshi , ADGP(Crime Branch) and IGP AN Sinha on Thursday caught a Big Fish. The under scanner expelled BJD MLA from Ganjam’s Gopalpur, now will be stationed at Jharpada Special Jail here, where corrupted IFS officer Abhay Pathak and his history cheater son Akash Pathak, cooling their heels after arrest.Pradeep Panigrahi was recently expelled from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over alleged anti-people activities.
With ADGP (CID-CB) Priyadarshi and his deputy Sinha taking the lead, the agency sleuths arrested MLA Panigrahy after questioning him in connection with a case registered with the Cyber Police Station.
The under scanner MLA was arrested under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 469, 471, 120-B of the IPC and Section 66C/66D of IT Act as there is sufficient prima facie evidence against him in this case, the Crime Branch said.
Sources said, CB gathered strong evidence against MLA Panigrahy, it has come to light that the expelled BJD leader, collected money from people on behalf of Akash Kumar Pathak on the false promise of providing them jobs in Tata company. This case relates to impersonation, cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and other cyber offences by Akash Kumar Pathak, who identified himself as in-charge Managing Director of Tata Motors passenger car division, the agency said.
Earlier, Vigilance, the anti-corruption agency of the State Police had arrested IFS officer Abhay Kant Pathak and his son Akash Kumar Pathak, who are accused of amassing assets worth crores disproportionate to their known sources of income.
“Several persons identifying themselves as Crime Branch officials came to our residence at Unit-6 and took my husband with them in a vehicle informing me that they were taking him to Economic Offence Wing (EOW) office,” said MLA’s wife Sujata Panigrahi.
“As I reached near the EOW office, I didn’t find my husband there. I am unable to know the whereabouts of my husband. It hardly takes 8 minutes to reach the EOW office from my residence. I followed the vehicle to the office but the vehicle that carried him didn’t reach yet,” she said.The MLA’s wife further said that it’s an attempt to frame her husband. “If anything happens to my husband, the Chief Minister will be responsible for that,” she added.
“The government claims that Rs 2.5 crore has been deposited in my husband’s bank account. I accept that. We are ready to clarify on that. Without giving any opportunity to put our stand, the government has exerted undue pressure on us,” she expressed.
