Bhubaneswar, April 28: The controversy surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Babula Panda, 28, grandson of freedom fighter Laxmi Indira Panda, refuses to die down even after his rescue yesterday.

Laxmi Panda, a former captain of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army, had fought against the British.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured Laxmi Indira Panda's descendants, including Babula's father Surendra and his mother Sujata, on April 16 at Raj Bhavan for her contributions to the freedom struggle.

Babula had come along with them to witness his family being honoured by Modi.

Police rescued Babula while he was lying on the roadside in the Mancheswar Industrial area of the city in a critical condition.

He was later admitted to the SCB Medical College and hospital. The state government is bearing the expenses of his treatment.

BJP's state vice-president Samir Mohanty said: "His recovery from the roadside proves the involvement of influential people."

He criticised the director general of police for making a statement on the issue to suit BJD. The DGP in his statement had not thrown any light on how Babula landed in Mancheswar.

Raising a finger at the role of two prominent BJD leaders, energy minister Pranab Prakash Das and former minister Rabi Narayan Nanda in the matter, Mohanty said: "Police should verify the call records of the two leaders. Once the call records are examined, people will get to know the role of the two leaders behind the mysterious disappearance of Babula."

Mohanty added: "Babula's family members themselves had admitted that Rabi Narayan Nanda had given them Rs 50,000. Questions should be asked why Nanda rushed to his house and gave family the money."

Questioning the police's role, the BJP said the police tried to downplay the issue stating that Babula had a criminal background.

Rabi Nanda, on the other hand, said: "I am prepared to face any inquiry. The police are doing their job. But I don't want to make any comments on the baseless charge made by the BJP leaders. At this point, we should all pray that Babula recovers quickly."

Another BJD leader Debasis Samantaray said: "The BJP leaders brought Panda and his family members to be honoured by the Prime Minister in Bhubaneswar. After the felicitation ceremony it was the responsibility of the BJP leaders to send back the family members of the freedom fighters to their houses with dignity."

Ama Odisha chief Soumya Ranjan Patnaik today joined the controversy.

"With so many twists and turns, the incident is no less than a high voltage drama and I suspect the involvement of political parties in the incident," said Soumya Ranjan.

Director general of police K.V. Singh said: "The police rescued Babula from the roadside. Babula is an adult. He will tell you how he went missing. He is undergoing treatment now."