The expected backlash after the aborted coup by ousted BJD leader Pyarimohan Mohapatra seems to have gained steam with the Naveen Patnaik Government launching a hunt on the purported perpetrators of the failed bid.
The State Vigilance on Monday reportedly raided the premises of a Sahid Nagar-based mining company, whose Managing Director is alleged to have played a vital role in assisting Mohapatra in orchestrating the coup. The company head is alleged to have organised funds running into over Rs 100 crore, which could have been used to buy the MLAs to effect a split in the BJD.
A 22-member team of the anti-corruption unit arrived on cat’s feet at Plot No.44 in Sahid Nagar, not very far from Pyarimohan’s house, which was rented out to the mining company and launched a search operation. During the raid, even a landlady, an 83-year-old widow, who lives on the same premises, was not spared. She was subjected to harassment and humiliation as the sleuths went through every nook and corner of her house.
Even the day-to-day items, including groceries, were not spared during the raid. Director of Vigilance S K Panwar, however, said no action nor any raid of the sort was carried out by the anti-corruption wing.
If it was not Vigilance, was it a private army which was engaged to carry out the search in the garb of the anti-corruption wing? Nihar Satpathy, the MD of the company, also denied the raid and said he has no links in the matter.