BJD paid Rs 45 lakh to Maoist leader: Braja Tripathy

Bhubaneswar: In yet another embarrassment for the BJD, former union minister Braja Tripathy today alleged that the ruling party is encouraging the CPI (Maoists) with monetary transaction through bank.

Tripathy, a former parliamentarian from Puri, said the ruling party had credited Rs 45 lakh to bank account of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda.

“The amount has been transferred through bank cheque (no 44 1630) from BJD A/C no 10091755246 to Sabyasachi Panda's ICICI bank A/C no 203601501728” Tripathy told newsmen.

He said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for a high level inquiry into the matter.

BJD has refuted the allegation terming it ‘baseless’. “It is true that BJD has taken a number measures in Maoist-prone areas of the State for the development of people. The party is trying hard to bring back the rebels to mainstream. But, the charge of Maoist link is baseless,” BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said.

On the other hand, wife Mili Panda said that Sabysachi has no bank account.