Das Burma ‘innocent’, says AT chief

Bhubaneswar: Without naming Sanjay Das Burma, currently in the eye of a storm for allegedly receiving a Pajero vehicle from the Artha Tatwa (AT) chit fund company, AT chief Pradeep Sethy today said the Food Supply and Consumer Affairs minister is ‘innocent’.

After his appearance before a local court here, Sethi told media persons, “The issue of the Pajero is the ‘biggest joke of the year’. It is a false allegation and an unnecessary issue is being created. That person is innocent.”

Today’s statement is a volte-face by Sethi as he, on March 18 this year, had said, “I cannot say who has taken vehicles from my company as there were 51 directors. But, yes some vehicles were given to some people for campaigning. We had not gifted any vehicle to anyone.”

On gifting of vehicles to Das Burma, Sethi had said, “I don’t want to say anything as the matter is sub-judice.”
Meanwhile, OPCC president Prasad Harichandan said Sethi is an accused and his statement should not influence the ongoing probe.