The Odisha police and the NHAI today separately started investigations into the alleged effort to bribe media persons at Union minister Nitin Gadkari's programme here.
The media persons were waiting for the Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Dharmendra Pradhan to arrive at the Dussehera Ground here for a programme.
While waiting for them the media persons allegedly found one Rs 500 currency note in each media kit.
The journalists also said that the media kits were distributed by NHAI officials.
The media persons strongly protested and a local journalist Ranjan Patra lodged a complaint with the Angul Police Station.
"We have received the complaint and we are looking into the matter," Angul SP Brijesh K Rai told PTI.
He also said that some NHAI officials have since been called for questioning.
"We may call the meeting organisers again if required," the SP said.
Meanwhile, the NHAI has also ordered an inquiry into the allegations that an effort was made to bribe media persons at the event.
"Anyone found guilty will be punished," an official statement issued by the NHAI said.
Odisha's Commerce and Transport Minister Nrushingha Sahu condemened the attempt to bribe media persons at Gadkari's programme.
Both Gadkari and Dharmendra Pradhan attended the "Bhumi Pujan" at Dussehra ground in Angul town today.
It was organised before construction work began to widen Angul-Sambalpur, Tileibani-Sambalpur and Balanga-Jharpokharia national highways.
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