B&R Company Director's request for meeting with IAS Bishnupada Sethi raises questions

In the wake of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s summon to Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi, a meeting request by the high-ranking officials of B&R Company with the IAS Officer has raised serious questions.

Two days before the significant raid by the CBI, Bishnupada Sethi, the Principal Secretary of the ST & SC Development Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha, is suspected to have met with Chanchal Mukherjee, the Director of Bridge and Roof Company. 

A letter dated December 5 has come to light, showing that Bridge and Roof Company had requested a meeting with the senior IAS officer. Chanchal Mukherjee, Director of Bridge & Roof Company, had submitted a request to meet Bishnupada Sethi, on December 5, just days before a raid was carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on December 7.

The sequence of the events has sparked questions regarding the nature of the proposed visit and whether the meeting took place.

Also Read: Bribery case: CBI likely to grill Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi today

“Dear Sir, we would like to inform you that the following officials CK Mukherjee and BK Singh, GM, East Coast, request to meet with Honourable Principal Secretary, in connection with various projects, executed by us in different districts in Odisha,” a letter from Bridge & Roof Company to the office of the Principal Secretary read.

However, there has been no evidence to prove that Bishnupada met Chanchal Mukherjee.

It is important to note that as early as October 19, Bishnupada Sethi had approved a contract awarding up-gradation works of Aashram Schools and High Schools to Bridge and Roof Company. The timeline of events continues to raise eyebrows as authorities delve deeper into the matter.