Bhubaneswar: BJD MP Achyuta Samanta's election to Rajya Sabha has been challenged in Orissa High Court by Right to Information (RTI) activist Subhash Mohapatra.
Mohapatra moved the High Court today seeking invalidation of Samanta's Rajya Sabha membership.
Mohapatra, whose nomination papers for Rajya Sabha elections were rejected in March, alleged that criminal cases are pending against Samanta and the latter had concealed income-related information in his poll affidavit filed during nomination.
Moreover, as Samanta has two PANs and two voter identity cards, his election as Rajya Sabha member should be cancelled, Mohapatra prayed in his petition.
The Election Commission of India, State Electoral Officer and Returning officer for Rajya Sabha election have been made parties in the case.
“Criminal cases are pending against Achyuta Samanta at various places in Odisha and he has not mentioned them in his affidavit for which we have filed a petition in Orissa High Court,” said Mohapatra.
Though Samanta could not be contacted for his comments on the allegations, on March 13, 2018, he had claimed that he has only one voter identity card.
Apart from this, Subhash Mohapatra has also knocked the doors of the Orissa High Court seeking appropriate directions in connection with the mysterious disappearance of a tribal student of Achyuta Samanta-founded Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar.
The student, Rama Chandra Mandra of Dantipara in Bondaghati of Malkangiri district has been missing since 2015.
While the family members allege that Rama Chandra didn’t return home from school, the institute authorities claim that the student had gone home during the summer vacations and didn’t come back.
Rama's mother Budai Mandra has also lodged a police complaint in connection with the disappearance of her son recently.
“We have not got any information despite lodging complaint in police station,” said Sania Mandra, brother of missing Rama Chandra.
Mohapatra and Rama Chandra's mother moved the Orissa High Court seeking orders for an appropriate probe in connection with the incident.