Bhubaneswar, March 17: Senior Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra has dropped a bombshell that has sent the state's political temperature soaring.

Mohapatra has alleged that Sanjay Das Burma, a minister in the Naveen Patnaik government, has received a Mitsubishi Pajero as a gift from the tainted money deposit collection company, Artha Tatwa (AT).

Mohapatra has referred to a CBI report while naming Das Burma as the recipient of the luxury SUV. The vehicle is priced around Rs 26 lakh.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing into the Artha Tatwa Group of Companies for allegedly duping thousands of investors in the state of Rs 1,200 crore. AT Group boss Pradeep Sethy is already behind the bars.

Mohapatra has referred to a 12-page CBI report, which the investigating agency has submitted to Orissa High Court, while naming theminister. The CBI has already submitted two sets of chargesheets against the AT group.

Addressing a news conference here, Mohapatra alleged that a minister in the BJD government with two important portfolios had taken this Pajero. "I too have seen that vehicle. But it is no more in the state. Police should try to locate it," said Mohapatra.

Daring the government to initiate action against the minister, Mohapatra said: "Why the law has been silent on him so far? If the government is so clean about its administration, why no action has been initiated against him?"

Challenging Mohapatra to prove the allegations, Das Burma, who is the food supplies & consumer welfare and technical education minister, said: "All his allegations are baseless and it indicates his foolishness. If he has the guts, let him prove his allegations and I will retire from politics. Otherwise, he should quit politics."

Das Burma also said that the people of the state were aware of Mohapatra's image and character. "By levelling such false allegations he has again proved himself to be a despicable person," the minister said.

However, Mohapatra accepted the challenge and dared the minister to initiate criminal proceedings against him.

In the AT group scam, the CBI has already arrested former advocate general Asok Mohanty and Banki BJD legislator Pravat Tripathy. Now both are out on bail.

In another money deposit scam, BJD MP Ramchandra Hansda is also behind bars.

Shortly after Mohapatra levelled the allegation, senior Congress MLAs, including party's chief whip Taraparsad Bahinipati, rushed to his residence to chalk out strategy to attack the government in the Assembly tomorrow.

"Discussions are on to raise the issue in the Assembly tomorrow," said a senior Congress MLA.

The Opposition will also raise the issue of the ruling party using the police administration to deliberately harass its political opponents.

"When former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena was arrested for his alleged nexus with chit fund companies, why no action should be initiated against Das Burma? We will raise the issue both in the House and outside," he said.