Upset over the delay on the part of the Vigilance, probing the Rs56-lakh scam by the Odisha Association for the Blind (OAB), in filing chargesheet even after the Orissa High Court’s direction, blind persons have demanded a CBI probe in the matter.
Disability rights activist Sannyas Kumar Behera alleged that the OAB misappropriated the Central Government grant to the tune of Rs56 lakh sanctioned under the Centrally-sponsored scheme of inclusive education in the secondary stage by the Department of School Education and literacy of the Union Ministry of HRD.
“A portion of the grant has also been found to be deposited in the Seashore chit fund company. Though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed the Assembly that an FIR has been has lodged by the Bhubaneswar Vigilance SP against three OAB office bearers, Bihari Nayak, Kedar Nath Sahoo and Ashok Kumar Nanda, on dated October 30 last year but the investigating agency is yet to file chargesheet in the case,” said Behera.
He also alleged that though the High Court had directed the Vigilance to conduct the probe expeditiously, nothing tangible has happened as yet.
“Hence, a CBI inquiry is needed to unearth the corruption,” said Behera.
Behera said, “Strict action must be taken against all the three erring OAB officials by ensuring speedy trial of the case to bring an end to the sufferings caused to the blind children.”
He said blind people who protested against such misappropriation were physically and mentally tortured and removed by OAB office-bearers’ post. He alleged Bihari Nayak, one of the three accused persons, has lodged a false case against 18 innocent blind persons residing at the OAB.