Lokayukta Heat On Odisha MLA Accused Of Swindling Funds From Govt Scheme

Bhubaneswar: Trouble is mounting for BJD MLA from Remuna Sudhanshu Sekhar Parida with the Lokayukta Odisha seeking views of Speaker of the state Assembly over his alleged involvement in swindling crores of rupees meant to subsidise farm equipment purchase by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes beneficiaries.

It has sent the preliminary Vigilance inquiry into the complaint filed by one Tanmaya Mohanty and asked for the Speaker’s views on or before June 9, the next date of hearing.

In May 2022, the anti-corruption watchdog had asked the state vigilance to conduct preliminary inquiry into allegation of corruption against the MLA to ascertain whether a prima facie case exists. The report was submitted last month.

Basing on the Vigilance findings, the Lokayukta has served notices to the MLA, his ex-partner Subal Kumar Parida, his active partner Prasanna Kumar Jena, and 15 other agents/associates of the firm. They have also been asked to submit their explanation by June 9.

In the complaint, it has been alleged that Rs 9 crore in subsidy funds were siphoned off between 2017 and 2020 by Nigamananda Associates, a firm owned by Parida. The firm swindled the subsidy amount of around Rs 6 lakh provided by the state government to each beneficiary to purchase paddy harvester, which costs around Rs 24 lakh.

The MLA has long been denying his involvement in the matter, stating that he was part of the company only till 2015.