BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda and wife Jagi Mangat Panda have squarely blamed two former directors of the Odisha Infratech Pvt Ltd (OIPL) for the alleged land irregularities at Sarua, Khordha.
In an anticipatory bail plea moved in the Orissa High Court, the couple has mentioned that Bibhu Prasad Rath and Manoranjan Sarangi were running the OIPL’s day-to-day affairs its directors.
The plea further stated that Rabindra Sethi, who allegedly purchased land from SC people and sold the property to the OIPL, was employed as Bibhu Prasad Rath’s driver. Rath was also the CEO of a group company, ORTEL Communications Ltd. Baijayant and Jagi are only shareholders of the OIPL. Baijayant has never been a director of the company and never participated in its affairs while Jagi was a director from September 23, 2008 till March 10, 2010, the bail plea mentioned.
Notably, the Additional SP of EOW, Crime Branch, on October 31, 2020 filed an FIR suo motu in connection with the OIPL’s fraudulent land transactions. Baijayant and Jagi later moved the anticipatory bail pleas in the HC fearing arrests. Earlier, November 5, 2020, the HC granted interim protection to Panda couple from arrest but withdrew protection on November 20.