After the Odisha High Court quashed the Vigilance case lodged against former DGP Prakash Mishra, the Utkal Bharat on Monday demanded resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, maintaining that the CM had implicated the top cop in the case as he had acted against BJD leaders carrying money in ambulances during the last general elections.
Party president MA Kharabela Swain told reporters here that the HC has not only quashed the FIR against Mishra but has also reprimanded the Vigilance Director observing that he had done this to please his political bosses. “The High Court observed that there is not even an iota of evidence against Prakash Mishra. Following the observation of the court, it is now clear that the Vigilance Director lodged the complaint at the behest of the Chief Minister to take revenge,” added Swain.
Swain informed that the CRPF DG’s statement that he has been targeted for not allowing ambulances to carry money during the last general elections is now evident. “The court indirectly reprimanded the Chief Minister since he is holding the Home Department portfolio under which the Vigilance wing comes. Hence, the Chief Minister has no morality to continue,” said Swain. Maintaining that the party would move to the Election Commission of India and to the court of law over the use of money power to buy votes, Swain said, “Since last 15 years the Naveen Patnaik is using money power to come to power.”