Berhampur: The district and sessions court of Ganjam had on February 13 annulled her election as councillor and on Thursday, mayor K. Madhavi returned to office after 37 days armed with an interim stay from Orissa High Court.

"As the high court has granted an interim stay on the operation of the lower court's verdict pending a complete hearing of her petition, I would now continue to perform my duties as the mayor of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation," Madhavi said while entering her office room. The high court had passed the interim stay on March 20.

"I had started development works earlier that are yet to be completed. The council's term ends within five months. My focus will be to finish these development work as soon as possible," Madhavi said.

The Ganjam court had annulled Madhavi's election while disposing of a petition filed by former mayor Siba Shankar Das.

Consequently, Madhavi lost her post as the court had set aside her election as a corporator on the ground that she had filed a false affidavit pertaining to her marriage and erroneous mention of spouse's name.

The petitioner had also alleged that Madhavi has misused her official power to grab land in Berhampur city. Challenging the local court's verdict, Madhavi had moved Orissa High Court on February 16.

NSA on ex-mayor

Police have booked former Berhampur mayor Siba Shankar Das alias Pintu under the National Security Act, said additional district superintendent of police Shantanu Kumar Das.

The police pasted the notice on the wall of his house as Das is currently lodged in jail in two cases.