Rajya Sabha MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra today raised questions on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's presence at the launching of a TV channel, floated by Seashore Group, a Ponzi firm accused of duping investors and presently being investigated by the CBI.
Mohapatra, president of the Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM), alleged that the government had not acted against Seashore and 'sat over' the report of the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau of the Department of Revenue, which had informed the Odisha government about the alleged illegal running of money circulation schemes by the Seashore Group as early as in February 2011.
"Why didn't the then chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik inform the chief minister about the report? And if he had informed, how is it that the chief minister attended the programme of Seashore Group in March 2011 ? The role of the then chief secretary needs to be probed," said Mohapatra.
Mohapatra also sought the removal of Excise and Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout who yesterday embarrassed the BJD government by saying the administration had allowed Seashore to run hospitals, tourist places and 100 acres of land to undertake maize cultivation in Nabarangpur district.
Mohapatra admitted that he wanted Seashore Group CMD Prashant Dash to set up a maize processing unit at Umarkote in Nabarangpur district as no one was interested to set up such a facility in the tribal dominated district.
"As a minister, Rout has breached the oath and he should be expelled from the ministry," Mohapatra told reporters here.
Reacting to Mohapatra's statement, Rout hit back saying, "I am well aware of my responsibilities and have not dishonoured my office or position. Besides, who is he (Mohapatra) to advise the chief minister to remove me from the post.
