Dama Rout hints at nexus between senior BJD leader & D-brothers

Cuttack: Known for his off-the-cuff remarks, BJD leader Damodar Rout once again on Saturday courted controversy by pointing finger at a senior BJD leader of Cuttack for links with arrested Dhala Samanta brothers.

Answering to media queries on enforcement directorate (ED)'s summon to son of BJD's heavyweight late Kalpataru Das and Dharmasala MLA Pranab Kumar Balabantaray, to appear for interrogation for his alleged links with the gangster brothers, Rout said that why not summon the one who is directly involved with D-brothers.

“You must be knowing which politician I am talking about so I don’t need to tell,” Rout said in reply to the name of MLA Debasish Samantaray whose name also made rounds over links with the criminal brothers during the arrest of city corporator Ranjita Biswal in March 7 earlier this year in connection with the case.

Rout said “In Cuttack it is quite common to come across the link between a well known party leader and the gangster siblings. You can know that while even walking through the city,”

"A criminal is also a politician now days. Those working outside the purview of law are criminals and in ruling party while some are rulers others are not," he added.

When asked about the excessive favouritism shown by the State government to Panda Infra, the construction company of Bomikhal flyover which caved in for the second time earlier on May 3, Rout that money of some members of the ruling party has been invested in Panda Infra.

“Talks are doing rounds that some ruling party members have invested in the company. Somebody might be pressurising the State government which is why the construction firm has been winning contracts,”he said.