5 months ago
2
The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has begun probe into “excessive power” exercised by V.K. Pandian, the past all-powerful adjacent adjutant of erstwhile Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar Gauda, who has been entrusted with the task of investigating into the allegations, has sought grounds successful enactment of allegations made by Surendra Panigrahi, the petitioner successful the case.
‘No specified department’
In 2023, Mr. Panigrahi, president of Bharatiya Bikash Parishad, a non-government forum, had alleged that arsenic per the Odisha Government Rules of Business, 1956, which outlines the model for the functioning of the Odisha government, determination was nary specified section called ‘5T’ successful the State.
“V.K Pandian, the 2000 batch IAS serviceman who had taken voluntary status to articulation Biju Janata Dal, was backstage caput to past Odisha CM. However, helium was appointed arsenic 5T Secretary by a notification issued successful 2019. This is intelligibly usurpation of rules,” said the petitioner.
Mr. Panigrahi had archetypal sent his petitions to the Governor, Chief Minister and Chief Secretary successful 2023, but his petition was ne'er taken up for investigation. He subsequently sent his allegations to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the bureau of the President successful 2024 and 2025.
“Mr. Pandian moved unsocial by chopper passim Odisha without support of past CM. As per RTI information, an expenditure of ₹9,03,60,346 was made towards hiring of helicopter. Subsequently, ₹8.18 crore was spent for chopper usage taking the full expenditure to ₹17.21 crore. The erstwhile IAS’s occupation determination was confined to Chief Minister’s Office. It was amerciable to question by aerial alone,” helium charged.
“The erstwhile IAS serviceman utilized to code nationalist meetings, state caller projects without budgetary provisions and invitation each the students from superior schools to assemblage to be his gathering declaring compulsory holiday. He had past hijacked the administration,” Mr. Panigrahi said.
‘Only oral orders’
“In the lawsuit that law heads are unwell, powers are mostly not passed onto subordinates including backstage secretaries. How was it imaginable that backstage caput to Odisha CM was discharging law duties by the spot of oral orders from CM?” Mr. Panigrahi had further pointed retired successful his 2023 petition.
Mr. Pandian, the Tamil Nadu–born erstwhile IAS officer, wielded sizeable power during the tenure of Mr. Patnaik. After resigning from the Indian Administrative Service, helium formally joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). However, pursuing the party’s decision successful some the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections successful 2024, helium withdrew from progressive politics. Mr Panigrahi had submitted respective petitions alleging misuse and overreach of authorization by Mr Pandian.
