Dubious poll funding row: HC defers hearing of two petitions to Sep 6

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court today deferred hearing of the two petitions over the alleged discrepancies in poll expenses of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The hearing of the petition of BJP's defeated Hinjili candidate Debanand Mohapatra and activist Subash Mohapatra has been scheduled to September 6.

While on July 31, the court had scheduled hearing of the petition by Debanand to August 10 the hearing of the petition of activist Subash Mohapatra had been scheduled to September 6.

Based on a PIL by Odisha native Subash Mohapatra alleging gross discrepancies in sworn statements on poll expenses of CM Patnaik and his party the court had issued notice to the Election Commission on July 18 and asked it to submit finding reports.

Later on July 24, Ganjam Collector and District Election Officer Premchand Choudhary had filed a recall petition seeking the court to dismiss the writ petition as the petitioner was not a resident of the concerned constituency when the ‘alleged discrepancies had occurred’.

Also since all the details related to polls are destroyed after one year. Therefore, asking for the details after two years of completion of the elections is not acceptable, the recall petition said.