BJP leader and party State Committee member Bhuban Mohan Jena on Thursday appeared before the Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch (CB) for being questioned in connection with the allotment of a petrol pump in Kendrapada and ad hoc dealership of Company Owned Company Operated Retail Outlet (COCO) in Paradip to the relatives of arrested Kendrapada-based gangster Usman Ali alias Tito.
Jena was reportedly grilled for over an hour by the investigating officers.
The act against Jena has come as an affront to the BJP shortly ahead of the general and Assembly elections in the State.
So, no wonder that protesting against the interrogation of Jena, several BJP workers gheraoed the office of the STF here.
The STF had earlier summoned Jena to appear before it on the day.
During an earlier investigation, it had been found that Jena is acquainted with the facts and circumstances regarding allotment of petrol pumps in the names of the relatives of Tito in Kendrapada and Paradip, STF DSP TK Mohanty had said.