MP Baijayant Panda booked on charge of filing in incorrect poll affidavit

Odisha police today registered a criminal case against suspended BJD MP Baijayant Panda on the charge of filing incorrect affidavit for the 2014 general election, following a direction from a court.

Panda represents Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency and was suspended by BJD in January for alleged anti-party activities.

A case was registered against Panda under IPC sections 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating) and section 125-A of the Representation of People Act following directions by the Kendrapara sub-divisional magistrate court yesterday, sub-divisional police officer Rajib Lochan Panda said.

Investigation has been launched with the registration of the case, police said adding that it will verify the MP's poll affidavit documents.

Panda may be quizzed in connection with the case, the SDPO added.

The SDJM court acting on a petition by Dillip Das, a resident of Thakurhaat, had issued directions to the police to register a criminal case against the sitting Lok Sabha MP and file a compliance report to the court by July 25.

The petition stated that Panda was officiating as vice-chairman of Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA), the corporate house owned by his family, and was drawing salary in crores of rupees. But in the election affidavit, he had wilfully covered the facts which went against the spirit of Representation of People Act.

Besides, he perpetrated fraud and unfair practice by suppressing facts in his poll affidavit, the petitioner alleged.

Panda was not immediately available for comment but his office in a statement said that the law will take its course.