Land grab slur on ex Odisha Speaker Kishore Mohanty

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 18:

The Opposition Congress and BJP today levelled serious land grab charges against Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) chairman Kishore Mohanty and his family members in the Odisha Assembly.

Congress members Jogesh Singh and Naba Kishore Das and BJP member Radharani Panda alleged in the House that the former Speaker and his family members have fraudulently grabbed 316 decimals of government land in Jharsuguda.

In his reply to the allegation, Revenue Minister Bijoyshree Routray said that legal aspects of the land will be probed.

“In the Revenue minister’s reply Kishore Mohanty, his wife and his son’s names have been mentioned. If Kishore Mohanty is the same person, who is the WODC chairman, then it’s a very serious matter,” said Congress MLA from Jharsuguda Naba Kishore Das.

Quoting from the Revenue Minister’s reply, Brajarajnagar MLA Radharani Panda gave a complete break-up of land registered in the name of Mohanty and his family members and demanded a thorough probe.

Bowing to the demand for a probe, Revenue Minister announced a fresh probe into the whole issue and promised action if any illegality is found in the probe.

“We will once again examine the report we have received on the matter on the basis of the allegations made. I am directing the department to conduct a thorough inquiry on the basis of the report we have received and the allegations made by them. There will be no favour shown to anybody and action will be taken if any illegality is made out,” said Routray.

On his part, Mohanty has rubbished the charge saying it had no basis whatsoever.

“Those who are making the charges do not know either the history or geography of Jharsuguda. This is vague talk; there is no truth in it. It’s nothing but an expression of frustration by the MLA,” said the former Speaker in his reaction to the allegation made against him in the Assembly today.

“I have filed an affidavit on my landed property  every time I have contested an election. It is all ou there in black and white,” Mohanty said.