Pipili probe panel to decide on Dec 21 on CM's affidavit

Asking the petitioner's counsel Nishikant Mishra to file his rejoinder to the State government affidavit, the Commission in its 17th sitting yesterday said it will hear the case and take a decision on the contentious issue on that day.

Mishra had in a petition urged the Commission to append the chief minister and ask him to file an affidavit under the Commission of Enquiry Act.

The state government had, however, objected to Mishra's prayer saying it was not required as several officers including the home secretary, police DG and many other policemen have filed affidavits before the Commission.

The Commission directed the state health secretary to produce guidelines, if any by the government to deal as per law with the medico-legal cases. The guidelines are required as some doctors are to be summoned for testifying before it as part of the inquiry.

Testifying before the panel forensic officer Sujan Kumar Das said he had conducted the polygraph test of all the four accused arrested in the case as per the requisitions of the investigating police officer.

Former SP of Puri A N Sinha and Pipili sub-divisional police officer Rajkishore Rout did not turn up for their depositions and sought a later date, which were allowed by the Commission.

The Commission also issued summons to Pipili tehsildar Abani Kanta Patnaik, Pipili hospital medical officer J B Patnaik and another forensic officer Abhiram Behera to appear before it on December 21 for their depositions and cross-examinations.