A transport company has alleged extortion by a union leader in Paradip in the name of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for fund collection for the BJD for the Bijepur by-poll.
“For the Bijepur by-election, I am coming to Paradip for collecting funds on behalf the BJD by the direction of the Chief Minister. I will be BJD MlA candidate for Paradip in the 2019 general elections. So give me Rs 30 lakh or stop the work and go back,” Maruti Minerals Transport Company GM Santosh Kumar
Patra alleged to have been told this by one Bijay alias Babuli Swain, chief advisor of Maa Baidehi Oil Refinery Workers’ Union.
Patra told, “My company is small and its annual turnover is below Rs 3 lakh. I am completely unable to pay a huge amount but Bijay Swain and his supporters, Dhirendra Samal and Soubhagya Biswal, forced me to pay the hefty amount.”
Notably, on February 8 evening in front of Paradip Refinery Gate, a group of youths attacked the employees and drivers of his company and snatched the challan books, besides Rs 17,000 and other important papers.
On behalf of his company, Sunil Gatayata had lodged an FIR at Abhaychandpur police station against Kalia, Tukuna, Bijay Swain, Dhira Samal and Saubhagya Biswal alias Khoka Bhai. The police had registered a case and arrested only Tukuna. Patra sought help from the district administration and police.