The State-level scrutiny committee (SlSC) has directed BJD MlA Ramesh Patua from Rengali constituency in Sambalpur district to personally appear before it on April 20 and give clarification to the charge that he submitted a fake Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate while filing nomination papers for the reserved seat during the 2014 Assembly elections. It may be mentioned that RTI activist Sanjay Kumar Chhuria had filed two petitions in the SlSC over the issue. But as the petitions failed to elicit any response from SlSC, he later moved the Odisha High Court.
After hearing Chhuria’s petition, a single judge bench of Justice BK Patel had directed the SlSC on August 13, 2014 to act on the plea at the earliest, preferably within three months from the date of order. The issue of fake caste certificate came to light after Independent candidate and retired OAS officer Gangadhar Mahananda for the seat moved to the RDC (North) and the SSlC Chairman making this allegation against Patua.
Mahananda argued that Patua belongs to ‘Chippi’ caste under OBC/SEBC category. However, Patua managed to get a certificate mentioning his caste as ‘Patua’ from Rengali Tehsildar by virtue of the report of the Assistant Revenue Inspector (RI) of laida, Mahanand alleged. Maintaining that there is no revenue record in the name of Ramesh Patua or his father late Mahendra Patua, Mahananda cited the case of one Premanand Patua whose caste was ‘Chippi’. On the other hand, Patua said his certificate was obtained legally and is correct.