The alleged Balasore sex scandal, involving senior IAS officer Prashant Kumar Nayak, has taken a dramatic turn after 13 years with the victim giving him a clean chit. The victim has also raised questions over the CBI investigation into the issue and accused the PIL petitioners of using her for their vested interest.
While filing a writ petition and an affidavit in the Orissa High Court pleading for further inquiry through an officer of the rank as directed by the Court earlier, she has also appealed for bringing complicity of the PIL petitioners into the fold.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BK Mishra has posted the hearing in the case to November 12 after the Puja vacation.
The petitioner victim alleged that she had never seen Nayak either before or at any time after the incident. She was pushed to name him by the PIL petitioner Prashant Dash at the behest of powerful people, including former ministers, politicians and bureaucrats, who had personal scores to settle.
She also alleged that the investigation was conducted in a perfunctory manner by a DSP-rank officer while the Court had directed it to be held under a DIG. The investigation had skipped key factors relating to the incident and while this was monitored by the Court, the lapses were not brought to its notice by the PIL petitioners.
The issue had shaken the State in 1999, when the victim had alleged running of a sex racket in Bhubaneswar by the PET of KKS Women’s College, Balasore, Pravasini Kar in connivance with senior administrative officers, including Indian Information Service officer Susanta Mohapatra. Nayak was also implicated in the case and suspended by the Government in 2006.
The victim has levelled serious charges against the PIL petitioner Dash and three IAS officers, one has passed away, another retired and the third one suspended on corruption charges, that she was forced to name Nayak under threat and intimidation.