In eye of storm! ‘Mentally ill’ Odisha Excise official seeks 7-day leave

Puri: Few days after bringing serious allegations against police personnel accusing them of collecting money from illegal traders of liquor and other contraband items as bribe, Excise Inspector Sanjay Panda today sought a 7-day leave citing physical and mental illness.

In the leave application addressing Puri Excise Superintendent Amarendra Jena, the official sought leave for seven days from June 9 to June 15.

Panda, Excise Inspector of District Mobile Unit here, has also released a video stating that condition of his mental health has deteriorated post COVID infection and hence he needed the leave for his treatment.

Also Read: Odisha Excise Inspector puts cops in dock over ‘Hafta Vasuli’

In the video, he said, “I was infected with COVID-19 in October, 2020, following which I developed some mental health issues. After that I consulted Dr Nila Madhab Rath in Cuttack and was under medication for a long time. But now I am mentally unstable as I am not taking the prescribed medicines for the last one month due to unavailability of the same. The statement that I have given against police personnel is not at all true.”

The official also apologized the police department and the state Government for his “baseless” allegations.

“Police personnel in Puri including the SP are very cooperative. They work really hard. I have a lot of respect for the police department as well as the state Government. I am not mentally stable. Please forgive me for my false statement against cops in the district,” he said while pleading guilty.

Echoing the same, Panda’s wife Eliana said his husband has lost his mental balance as he is not under medication for the last one month due to negligence.

“Whatever he has said against police personnel was just a slip of tongue as he is mentally unstable. I pray for his early recovery,” she added.