Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, who was recently expelled from the BJD over “anti-people activities”, was arrested by the Crime Branch police late on Thursday evening.
Panigrahi was arrested under several penal provisions for allegedly collecting cash for IFS officer Abhay Kant Pathak’s son Akash Kumar Pathak, who was to have married Panigrahi’s daughter on December 11.
Another charge against Panigrahi is that he was also collecting money from aspirants for jobs at the Tata company unit in his native Ganjam district.
Earlier on the day, Crime Branch officials took Panigrahi from his house here for questioning. Panigrahi’s wife Sujata Panigrahi said, “The Government claims that Rs 2.5 crore has been deposited in my husband’s bank account. I accept that. We are ready to clarify on that.”