Former Odisha police chief says he has been framed

Former Odisha police chief Prakash Mishra Thursday said he sees a conspiracy by the state government to defame him by slapping a false case of financial impropriety against him.

"There seems to be a conspiracy," Mishra, who is currently special secretary for internal security at the Union home ministry, told IANS from New Delhi. "See the timing of the case," he said.

Fifty eight-year-old Mishra is a 1977 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Odisha cadre.

Mishra said he was surprised why the audit was done only for the period when he was chairman of the state-run Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation Ltd (OSPHWC) and not for the period of his predecessor or successor.

He questioned why the state government decided to appoint him as the state police chief in 2012 if he was under the vigilance scanner during his tenure as the chairman of the OSPHWC from 2006-2009.

Mishra's reaction came hours after a top Odisha vigilance official said a case has been registered against him on charges of financial impropriety and corruption.

The vigilance department has charged Mishra with abusing his official powers as chairman of OSPHWC, a post he held from 2006-2009, state vigilance department director K.B. Singh told IANS.

Mishra had taken control of the material wing of OSPHWC which is generally vested with the deputy project manager of the corporation and allegedly placed orders with steel and cement suppliers to the tune of Rs.59 crore, abusing his official position and had also given 100 percent advance to them, Singh said.

"As per the supply orders, the suppliers were supposed to give the supply within a week but they failed to do so. Instead of taking action against them, an advance was given to them again," Singh said.

"The case has been registered against Mishra and a few others officials after a special audit pointed out the irregularities," he added.

Mishra was short-listed last year for appointment as special director in the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The state too recommended his name in December 2013, but changed its decision May 28 this year when it wrote to the central government seeking withdrawal of its recommendation.

He was appointed director general of police in July 2012. He held the post till July 5 this year.

Mishra said there is no mention of him anywhere in the audit report on the basis of which the case was made against him. He also expressed surprise why he was not given an opportunity to present his case.