Odisha Lokayukta Gets SC Notice For 'Forging' Orissa HC Order On Ex BJD MLA Pradeep Panigrahi

With the former BJD legislator Pradeep Panigrahi moving Supreme Court alleging forgery of HC order by the Odisha Lok Ayukta, the Apex Court has today asked the State anti-graft watchdog to give a clarification reply in this regard.  

The legislator from Gopalpur had filed a petition in the apex court seeking registration of a criminal case against the Lokayukta for allegedly filing a 'non-existent' or 'forged' order of the Orissa High Court.

“We had filed a contempt of court order in the Orissa High court as the honourable court's order has been forged by the Lokayukta. The High Court has never passed such an order. We had also filed a petition in the Supreme Court that the Lok Ayukta has committed forgery on Supreme Court,” said senior advocate and counsel of Pradeep Panigrahi, Pitambar Acharya.

Significantly, the Odisha Lok Ayukta in December last year had ordered a probe against the legislator on allegations of amassing disproportionate assets. However, the Orissa HC in February this year had quashed the Lokayukta’s probe order.

Challenging the Orissa HC order, the Lokayukta then moved a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court. In that SLP, the Lokayukta has allegedly attached a six-page order of the Orissa High court, which is non-existent.

Admitting the petition of the former BJD legislator, the SC has asked the Lok Ayukta to submit clarification and had adjourned the hearing for two weeks. 

Pradeep Panigrahi was arrested on December 3 last year in connection with the ‘TATA Motors job fraud’ case registered at the Golanthara police station in Ganjam district. He was released from Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar on June 12, 2021, after the bail was granted by the Orissa High Court