FIR lodged against CM Naveen for chopper ride over Chilika lake

Bhubaneswar: An FIR was lodged against Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for allegedly flying over Chilika lake. The complaint was filed at Arakhakuda Marine police station in Puri district by convener of Sachetana Nagarika Manch Priyadarshan Patnaik today.

The complainant alleged that CM and others also violated norms by flying over the brackish water lake several times in the past, but no action was taken against them.

When action was initiated against former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda, why similar action was not taken against CM Naveen Patnaik, Puri MP Pinaki Misra, Ministers Maheswar Mohanty and Pradeep Maharathy and Brahmagiri legislatorSanjay Das Burma for flying over Chilika, questioned Patnaik while talking to reporters.

In his complaint, Patnaik also cited the dates and timings when the leaders flew over the lake.

Two days back the Sachetana Nagarika Manch convener had also lodged similar grievance before Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi about the alleged flying of the CM over Chilika lake.

On September 17, police seized the helicopter of former MP Baijayant Panda after FIR was filed by State government officials in connection with a helicopter flying over the ‘No Flying Eco Sensitive Zone’ of Chilika Lake.

However, Panda had termed the action a vindictive attempt by the ‘third floor’ of the State Secretariat to curtail his movement across the State.