Probe into Odisha’s Parala Maharaj property transactions begins

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 21:

Days after the family members of ailing Paralakhemundi Maharaj Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deb sought a probe into the property transactions relating to the royal family over the past 30 years, Odisha police have begun an inquiry into the allegations.

According to reports, Parlakhemundi police have interrogated six of the eight complainants— the members of Parla Maharaja Suraksha Committee. The proceedings have been videographed.

Besides, police have summoned former palace manager Anang Manjari Patra and her two brothers Sanjay Patra and Santosh Patra to depose before it in connection with the FIR lodged by the Committee.

This comes after Parala Maharaj’s daughter Kalyani Gajapati and his brother Jagannath Gajapati Narayan Deb wrote to Gajapati district administration seeking probe into the alleged misappropriation in property transactions.

King’s brother had written two separate letters to District Collector demanding security to the palace and probe into property transactions in the last 30 years. Similarly, Kalyani had sent a letter to the Chief Minister through Parlakhemundi MLA K Surya Rao who had visited the Maharaja in Chennai to take stock of his health condition.

“My brother Maharaja GN Gajapathi is in very poor health. He is unaware about what is going around him and especially about financial transactions,” Jagannath Gajapati Narayan Deb wrote to District Collector on Wednesday.

Expressing concerns over the transactions, Kalyani wrote: “I came to know that our property has been suspiciously handled by the palace managers and some other servants. Taking advantage of our absence, the managers sold property illegally or without giving full information to the royal family.”