Hearing in ex Odisha DGP graft case posted to Mar 10

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Mar 2:

Odisha High Court today posted the next hearing in the case against former state director-general of police (DGP) Prakash Mishra to March 10.

Mishra has been charged with financial irregularities during his tenure as chairman of Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (OPHWC).

After having failed to present it during the last hearing, the state Vigilance Directorate today submitted the preliminary probe report in the court and argued its case on why the charges against Mishra are sustainable.

Mishra’s counsel would present his side of the argument at the next date of hearing on March 10.

The probe report submitted today had found that there were discrepancies in the books of accounts during the period when Mishra was the chairman of OPHWC. A supplier had received advance money on two occasions without delivering the consignments even once, the vigilance department told the court.

These dubious transactions had led to financial loss to the corporation and invited the provisions of Section of 13-1-D and Sub-sections 1 and 2 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), under which the FIR aginst Mishra had been filed, counsel for the vigilance M Nageshwar Rao argued.

Notably, Mishra is facing the vigilance case on the charge of showing undue favours to some suppliers in 2006 thereby causing pecuniary loss to the state exchequer.

It may be recalled that the Odisha High Court had restrained the state government from taking any ‘coercive action’ against the senior police officer in October last year, who was posted as the special secretary, Internal Security then.

Mishra is now the Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).