Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday directed Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak to visit Chennai on Thursday to oversee the treatment of Maharaja of Parlakhemundi Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deb.
Patnaik also announced that the State Government would bear all the medical expenses of the two-time lok Sabha member. The Maharaja is now undergoing treatment at the Chennai-based Apollo Hospital.
Meanwhile, Parlakhemundi MlA K Surya Rao (Congress) and district BJP president G Ravana staged hunger strike in front of the Parla Palace demanding arrest of the king’s manager Ananga Manjari Patra, who, they alleged, had kept the Maharaja under house arrest for years.
They also demanded arrest of her two brothers and transfer of the District Collector for inaction.
“Our demands include proper treatment to the king, arrest of the palace manager along with her two brothers and a thorough inquiry into the palace’s monetary transaction, formation of new managing committee of Jagannath temple set up by the royal family and shifting of the Gajapati Collector for whom the king’s family has been insulted,” MlA Surya Rao said.
The Maharaja was allegedly kept under house arrest and was not allowed to meet anyone, including his relatives, by the manager of the palace.
Meanwhile, the manager and two brothers, who were working as PAs to the king, have resigned from their positions.