BJD

Bhubaneswar, Sept 21: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has expelled two of its prominent party members, Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Remuna MLA Sudhanshu Sekhar Parida, citing their involvement in alleged anti-people activities. The decision to expel these MLAs was announced by BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Both Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Sudhanshu Sekhar Parida faced allegations related to financial misconduct and fraud, prompting the BJD’s disciplinary action.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said “Two MLAs are being expelled from the Biju Janata Dal. The first is Shri Sudhanshu Parida, MLA Remuna and the second is Shri Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, MLA Khandapada. You will be getting a detailed press release about this very shortly.”

Regarding Sudhansu Sekhar Panda, the BJD released an official statement accusing him of misappropriating government subsidies meant for farmers. The statement specified that while he was the Managing Partner of M/s Nigamananda Associates in Balasore, Panda, along with others, allegedly misused over Rs. 3 crores of government subsidies between 2017-18 and 2019-20. This matter is currently under investigation by the State Vigilance on the orders of the Honorable Lokayukta.

Regarding MLA Khandapada, the BJD cited a serious case of organized bank fraud. An FIR filed by a former employee of Sambad Newspaper led to the registration of a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including sections 506, 467, 468, 471, 420, and 120-B IPC. The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Odisha’s Crime Branch initiated this investigation.

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Multiple former employees of Sambad newspaper have also made similar allegations with the EOW Odisha, implicating the MLA in a complex bank fraud scheme involving loans worth crores of rupees obtained in the names of over 300 employees of Sambad through fraudulent means and forged documents.

The expulsion of Soumya Ranjan Patnaik followed his public questioning of the visits made by 5T Secretary VK Pandian to various districts through his editorials and media statements.

Subsequently, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch conducted raids at the office of the daily newspaper Sambad, owned by Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, over allegations of loan fraud. This raid involved three joint teams comprising 12 officials from the EOW and Commissionerate Police, targeting the Sambad office located in Rasulgarh area, Bhubaneswar.

The BJD’s decision to expel these MLAs marks a significant step in maintaining party discipline and upholding ethical standards in public service.