Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Upendra Nath Behera landed in a controversy with an RTI reply exposing that his wife Anusaya Behera submitted false affidavit to the GA department and availed plots under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
According to rights activist Pradip Kumar Pradhan who filed the RTI application at the GA department, Anusaya produced false affidavit to sign a lease deed for a corner plot no 295 in Bharatpur Mouza in 2003 under Ghatikia-Shampur-Bharatpur Scheme of 1989 by switching over from a much less valued plot originally allotted in Ghatikia Mouza in 1991-92 and by suppressing facts over previous ownership of a private plot and house owned by her husband in Patia Mouza in 1997 which is also lying within 37 villages coming under the BMC.
“Behera in his Immovable Property Returns has mentioned that he had purchased a 4,200 sqft house-site in Patia Mouza in 1997 from Sailabala Das of Rajabagicha Cuttack on which he has constructed a 4,000 sqft house between1998 and 2000. The house is now being used as a guest house by KIIT since 2000. Patia being one among the 37 villages of BMC, the bureaucrat and his wife were not eligible for another residential plot from the GA department,” said Pradhan.
However, during 2001-02 when UN Behera was GA department Special Secretary, his wife applied for the prime corner plot in Bharatpur Mouza by switching over from an inferior plot allotted to her through lottery in 1991-92 in Ghatika Mouza, Pradhan contended.
Such facility of switching Mouza and allotment of choice plot was not offered to any other person, Pradhan alleged.
During 2003, while signing lease deed and taking the GA plot in Bharatpur Mouza, the bureaucrat’s wife suppressed facts and gave false declaration that she or her dependent children did not own any residential/commercial plot or house within the Bhubaneswar Master Plan area on lease hold or free hold basis.
It was further revealed that on January 7, 2002, while Behera was the GA department Special Secretary his wife wrote to the Director Estates to change Ghatikia plot which is at the end of the scheme area and, in exchange, prayed to allot her a prime plot in Bharatpur Mouza so that she can immediately construct a house.
Thus, the bureaucrat abused his official powers and position and because of that his wife Anusuya was granted the favour on a false declaration, Pradhan alleged further informing that the bureaucrat too has taken a residential plot from the CDA, Cuttack.
“Action needs to be taken against UN Behera and his wife for suppression of facts, removal of 12 pages from GA file and giving misleading declaration under Service Rules,” demanded the rights activist.