The purchase of land by the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) for construction of its office at Patharchepa here has run into controversy over price a difference between two plots of land and aggrieved people submitting a petition before court of law.
According to reports, the BJP has purchased a piece of agriculture land of 0.066 decimals from one Lalita Barik by paying Rs 33.99 lakh for its Balangir office.
In April this year, the Bhumi Pujan for party office was performed by BJP national president Amit Shah in the presence of the party’s State and local leaders, including KV Singh Deo and Sangeeta Singh Deo.
However, the same person sold a0 bigger plot of 0.073 decimals to two persons, including a BJP activist, adjacent to the plot the BJP has purchased, at almost half of its price, Rs 16.06 lakh, which has puzzled many.
How in the same locality and same kind of land the BJP paid double the price for a comparative small area, it is questioned by many.
According to sources, in the meanwhile, the BJP, which purchased its land from a legal representative, has been challenged by the seller’s other family members in the Civil Judge (Senior Division) here, alleging that the land sold to the party is a joint family property and liable to partitioned.
The whole process smack of corruption and irregularities, which needs an inquiry, pointed out a local resident.
When contacted, BJP district president Bhakta Bandhu Naik declined to say anything on the issue.