Odisha HC to hear BJD lawmaker’s bail plea tomorrow

Cuttack: Hearing on bail plea of BJD lawmaker from Choudwar-Cuttack constituency Pravat Kumar Biswal arrested for his alleged complicity in the Seashore Group chit fund scam was deferred for tomorrow by the Orissa High Court today.

The High Court today directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a status report on the MLA’s health.

The BJD lawmaker is currently admitted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital here as he had complained of illness.

In a related development, BJP Yuva Morcha workers blocked NH 16 near Madhupatna Square here by burning tyres on the road opposing Biswal’s prolonged stay in the hospital.

Protestors shouted slogans against the arrested BJP MLA. The blockade was cleared after police intervened and took into custody some of the agitators.

The BJP protesting against Biswal’s stay in the hospital after his arrest by faking illness has warned of launching an agitation over the issue.

Notably, Biswal had moved the High Court for bail on October 3 after his plea for the same was rejected by the Khordha District and Sessions Court on September 26.

Earlier, his bail plea was rejected by the Special CBI Court.

It may be recalled that Biswal was arrested by the CBI in the wee hours of September 19 from his Mahanadi Vihar residence in Cuttack for his alleged complicity in the Seashore Group chit fund scam.

While the Special CBI Court had granted the central investigating agency a five-day remand of the BJD MLA for further interrogation, the agency produced him in the court on September 22, one day before the completion of the remand period as he complained of sickness.

Biswal, who was sent to Jharpada Special Jail by the court with a direction for examination by doctors at the jail, was admitted to the Capital Hospital after doctors at the jail examined him and recommended for his shifting.

Later on September 25, as the health condition of the BJD lawmaker deteriorated, a panel of doctors comprising of Orthopaedic, Medicine, Surgery and Cardiology specialists treating him at the Capital Hospital recommended for his shifting to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for better treatment.

The MLA was under scanner over a deal between his wife Laxmi Bilasini Biswal and Seashore Group CMD Prashant Dash over a piece of land measuring 34 gunths at Benapur mouza in Jajpur district.

Dash had paid Rs 25 lakh for the land by cheque in two installments to Laxmi Bilasini in April 2012.

However, Dash had cancelled the deal later and had wanted his money back.

The MLA’s wife has claimed that she had returned the money to Dash by cash and was in possession of an agreement reached between her and Dash on court paper in the matter.