FIR lodged against OSIC officials, MSME Secy

The Odisha lokayukta Abhijan, Cuttack, an anti-corruption body, has lodged a complaint against Bhagyadhar Brahma and Bibhuti Bhusan Behera of the Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) and MSME Secretary Panchanan Dash with the Vigilance department in an alleged act of illegal gratification.

According to the FIR filed by the Abhijan, OSIC Joint Manager (Commercial) Bhagyadhar Brahma had availed a foreign trip offered by Tata Steel ltd to its retail dealers as performance incentives in 2012.

At that time Brahma was in charge of Tata Tiscon rebar marketing by virtue of OSIC being the sole distributor of the products in the State and reportedly forced a dealer to take him along in the package tour to Vienna while the Tata Retail and Institutional Business senior manager strictly prohibits the visit of OSIC officials for the foreign visit along with the dealer.

Though the issue came to light immediately after the tour, no action has been taken yet by the concerned authorities raising many eyebrows. The State PSU authorities which had initiated departmental proceedings against the officer by initiating inquiry under Additional Director (Industries) in June, 2014 is yet to be completed.

“Brahma serving in the OSIC Marketing Division was once chargesheeted on the grounds of gross misconduct, negligence in duty. Further he was indicted for his direct involvement in the capacity of Finance Officer of Marketing division from June 18, 1999 to the last credit sale of Rs 1,62,419 on August 25, 2001 resulting in net loss of Rs 130.09 lakh,” said Abhijan advisor Debesh Das.

He alleged that the then Special Secretary and the present MSME Secretary Panchanan Dash and OSIC MD Bibhuti Bhusan Behera never bothered to transfer or take action the main culprit Brahma.   “In view of the above facts and circumstances, FIR against main culprit Bhagyadhar Brahma, MSME Secretary Panchanan Das  and OSIC MD Bibhuti Bhusan Behera being the abettors to the offences committed by the Brahma,” the FIR maintained.

“We demand registration of an FIR by Vigilance at the earliest and action in the case,” added Das.