Odisha High Court quashes FIR against former DGP

The Odisha High Court on Friday quashed an FIR against former state police chief Prakash Mishra for alleged financial irregularities during his stint as the Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (OSPHWC) head.

The court also passed strictures against the vigilance director and the state government, saying both had not discharged their responsibilities while initiating the case against an honest officer, his counsel S. Mohanty said.

"The court censured the vigilance director for deliberately instituting a case against a senior IPS officer in the absence of sufficient prima facie evidence," Mishra's counsel told reporters in Cuttack.

Reacting to the court ruling, Mishra - who is now director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) - said that "it is a victory of truth and justice".

"I am happy that my honesty and integrity have been vindicated by the court. I had full faith in the judiciary," said Mishra.

The vigilance case of financial irregularities in the OSPHWC was initiated by the BJD government in September 2014 allegedly to scuttle Mishra's prospects of elevation to the CBI director's post after the Narendra Modi-led NDA government came to power at the Centre.

Mishra moved the high court to get quashed the FIR on alleged irregularities in the procurement of building materials during his tenure as chairman of the OSPHWC between 2005 and 2009.

Meanwhile, Vigilance Director K.B. Singh said that further action would be taken after receiving a copy of the court judgment.