Naveen Patnaik expels 2 MLAs including 'Sambad' editor

September 21, 2023 14:51

Soumya Ranjan Patnaik

Ruling BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Thursday expelled two MLAs including Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, also the owner-editor of Odiya daily Sambad, on charges of anti-people activities.

"Two MLAs have been expelled from the BJD. They are Sudhansu Sekhar Parida from Remuna and Soumya Ranjan Patnaik from Khandapada," Patnaik told reporters.

Soumya Ranjan Patnaik was earlier removed from the party's vice-president post on September 12.

As the editor of Odia daily Sambad, he had written two signed editorials attacking his own party. He had criticised CM's private secretary VK Pandian for allegedly exercising influence beyond his official position.

The latest action against Soumya Ranjan Patnaik comes after after the economic offence wing (EOW) of Odisha police registered a case against him under different sections of the IPC including cheating and fraud.

"It is a serious case of organised bank fraud involving loans worth crores of rupees taken in the name of more than 300 employees of Sambad by using fraudulent means and forged documents," a BJD statement signed by Chief Minister Patnaik said.

Similarly, Remuna MLA Sudhansu Sekhar Parida has been accused of misappropriating government subsidy worth Rs 3 crore meant for farmers. The matter is being inquired into by the state vigilance following an order of the Lokayukta, the BJD press note said.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

LIVE! Why is ECI afraid?: Cong after election rule tweak

'Pushpa 2' stampede: CM lambast 'inhuman' Allu Arjun

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has criticized Telugu actor Allu Arjun for attending the screening of 'Pushpa-2' despite police permission being denied. Reddy alleges that the actor continued to be present at the cinema hall...

Amid Ambedkar row, AAP declares scholarship for Dalits

In the run-up to the assembly elections in Delhi, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal announced an Ambedkar scholarship for free foreign education of the city's Dalit students. The scholarship is a response to the BJP's "insult" of Ambedkar,...

TN temple refuses to return iPhone dropped in 'hundi'

As per the practises and tradition at the temples, any offerings made into the hundial directly goes into the account of the deity of that temple. Rules do not permit the administration to return the offerings back to the devotees, Babu...

ASI inspects 'Skanda Purana' well at Sambhal temple

On Friday, a four-member team of the ASI surveyed the recently-discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple, five pilgrimage sites and 19 'koops' (wells).