Probe begins into BDA missive row

Bhubaneswar, May 29: Police have begun an investigation after getting a complaint from the development authority about a letter that alleges irregularities in the appointment of its planning member Pitabas Sahoo.

On April 29, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority received a letter, which had the name of retired IAS officer Prafulla Kumar Mishra, through speed post. The letter, addressed to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, stated that Sahoo, who had joined the development authority in February last year, did not meet the criteria needed for the post. Besides, it also stated that Sahoo was appointed in collusion with a top bureaucrat with vested interest.

On May 3, the development authority received another letter from Mishra disowning the previous one. Mishra’s letter addressed to the chief secretary indicated the possibility of involvement of a builder in the first letter sent in his name.

Mishra denied writing any letter to the development authority questioning appointment of the planning member.

“The letter was fake, and I suspect the involvement of a builder, who had cheated me after promising a flat. I was forced to seek legal recourse against him,” said Mishra.

Following the letter controversy, the authority lodged a complaint with Kharavela Nagar police. “As the said letter is of malicious nature and contains serious allegation against higher authorities of the state, I would, therefore, request you to investigate the matter at your level expeditiously,” stated the FIR lodged by the authority’s senior administrative officer.

Vice-chairman of the authority Krishan Kumar said they were waiting for the police investigation to commence.

In another development, Sahoo denied any irregularity in his appointment. “I was appointed according to the law, and I have the required qualification for the post,” said Sahoo, who holds a planning degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

Sahoo apprehended that the letter might have been sent by unscrupulous elements to prevent the extension of his tenure for which he had applied recently. “As I am an employee of the central government, currently on deputation, I have sought extension of my tenure according to the law. Someone might have written the letter to defame me,” he said.