Niranjan demands CBI probe into Pipili case

Bhubaneswar: Dismissing the judicial inquiry ordered by state government into Pipili rape episode as an "eye-wash", Congress today demanded a CBI probe into the incident and resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik due to worsening law and order scenario.

"The judicial probe into Pipili rape case is just an eyewash. It is aimed at protecting those in government without providing any concrete result," Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik told reporters here.

The state government must order investigation by an independent agency like CBI instead of relying on judicial probe which is a time consuming exercise, he said.

The role of police in Pipili had raised eyebrows among people who feel the culprits were being shielded as they were supporters of local BJD legislator and state Agriculture Minister Pradip Maharathy.

Slamming the police in Pipili for its role in handling the sensitive case, Patnaik said it was unfortunate that the chief minister, also incharge of home department, has left for Delhi on a five-day sojourn when rape cases are pouring in from different places of Odisha.

After Pipili incident, rape cases have been reported from areas like Bhadrak and Rajgangpur, he said.

In view of rising incidents of rape and deteriorating law and order situation in the state, Naveen Patnaik should step down as chief minister on moral ground, the PCC chief said.