IAS Bishnupada Sethi transferred by Odisha govt amid CBI summon

In a significant move, the Government of Odisha issued a notification on Tuesday, announcing key appointments and transfer involving IAS Bishnupada Sethi, who has been summoned by the CBI.

Sethi has been transferred by the Odisha government and appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the General Administration & Public Grievance Department. 

Sethi, an IAS officer of the 1995 batch, was Principal Secretary to several key departments, including Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, with additional charge of Principal Secretary for the Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department, and the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department.

Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, an IAS officer of the 1997 batch, who was earlier working on Central Deputation, replaced Sethi as Principal Secretary to Government, ST&SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department. In addition, he will continue to hold additional charges of the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department and the Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department.

Also Read: Bribery case: IAS Bishnupada Sethi likely to depose before CBI in Delhi; culprits won’t be spared, says Minister

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Sethi to appear in connection with the investigation into the Rs 10 lakh bribery case. CBI also summoned all the drivers associated with the vehicles of Sethi as part of an investigation into the alleged bribery. This move is linked to the ongoing inquiry against Chanchal Mukherjee, the chief of ‘Bridge and Roof’ Company in Odisha. Chanchal along with contractors Santosh Maharana and Debadatta Mahapatra were arrested from a hotel in Bhubaneswar by the CBI.

On December 10, the CBI summoned Sethi to appear at its Bhubaneswar office on December 11 to join the investigation. However, the bureaucrat sought more time through his lawyers. While it was learned that the bureaucrat may depose before the CBI in Delhi, the latest information obtained by OTV from reliable sources suggested that the central investigating agency has asked the official to appear at the Bhubaneswar office by 12 PM tomorrow (Dec 18).