Dasburma Meets Patnaik as Opposition Make Fresh Allegation
BHUBANESWAR: With opposition Congress and BJP demanding his resignation following CBI notice seeking clarification on alleged receipt of a car from a chit fund company, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma today called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The reason of the meeting, which took place the CM's five-day visit to New Delhi, is yet to be known. It was, however, not a one-to-one meeting as four more ministers--Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak (Health), Pranab Prakas Das (Energy), Arun Sahu (Law) and Pradeep Panigrahi (Higher Education)--were also present.
Meanwhile, Congress and BJP made fresh allegation and demanded CBI investigation into Dasburma's alleged investment in five companies. BJP state vice-president Samir Mohanty alleged that money cheated from people though chitfund companies had been invested in five companies owned by Dasburma's family and directors of the companies were his family members.
"The registered office of all these companies is L-3/2 Labour Colony in Kharavela Nagar, Unit-3 of Bhubaneswar, Dsaburma's residence," Mohanty claimed. Senior Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra said, "The investigation should find out who are the proprietors of these companies and their turnover."
While Dasburma refused to make any comment on the matter, BJD spokesman Pratap Jena said, "Congress and BJP have joined hands to defame us in the State." The CBI on April 4 had issued a notice to Dasburma asking him to submit documents relating to vehicles he and his family used.
Earlier, Congress leader Mohapatra had alleged that Artha Tatwa chief Pradip Sethi had given a statement to the CBI admitting that he had given a car to Dasburma.