SC asks OOA general secretary to stay away from post

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) general secretary Asirbad Behera to stay away from the post till the next hearing scheduled on April 13.

Hearing a controversial land encroachment case by the OOA, the apex court asked the joint secretary of the association to take charge as general secretary for this period.

Behera, who became general secretary in 1988, has been holding the post for the last 28 years. He is also the secretary of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA).

"Accepting the ruling of the apex court, I will hand over the charge to the joint secretary, who will look after the day-to-day office activities till April 13. I will take a decision on the next course of action after the next hearing," Behera told reporters.

Notably, the apex court had directed the Orissa High Court to form a three-member panel of judges to probe the alleged land encroachment by the OOA. The association has built the Barabati Palace for holding marriages and reception parties and 23 shops on the encroached land.