In a significant ruling, the Odisha High Court on Friday issued a notice to BJD leader and former Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda asking him to show cause as to why criminal proceedings shall not be initiated against him for submitting a forged document in the court in support of his evidence. Nanda, who has challenged the election of Jeypore Congress MlA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, had urged the HC in January to defer his appearance in the court as he was unwell and has been advised by the doctor for bed rest of at least six weeks. In support of his claim, he had also submitted a medical report from the Jeypore ADMO.
This contention of Nanda, however, turned out to be preposterous because the concerned ADMO happens to be a gynaecologist and Nanda claims that he was indisposed as he has developed cardiac-related ailment due to hypertension. Moreover, an ADMO is authorised to advise bed rest to a patient for only two weeks. Besides these, the counsel for Bahinipati submitted evidence in the court showing Nanda arranging and attending political meetings for hours together at his native place in Jeypore during the period he claims to have been advised bed rest.
Taking exceptions to it, Justice Biswnath Rath issued the show-cause notice to Nanda and adjourned the matter to be heard again after two weeks. It may also be mentioned that Justice Rath in November last year had imposed a cost of Rs 5,000 on Nanda for filing an amended petition to his original petition after the stipulated deadline.