**Bhubaneswar: ** In sequel to its delegation having met the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi demanding disqualification of Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik’s elected membership to the Assembly, BJP’s State unit leaders on Friday lodged a complaint with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here seeking a probe into dubious poll funding charges against him.
In his media reactions, Odisha BJP vice-president Sameer Mohanty said, “We brought the ED’s notice to the eight bank accounts possessed by BJD. Secondly, as per the norms of the Election Commission of India, a political party who deposits above Rs 20,000 should do so by cheque or in shape of draft. We demand probe into the Rs 25 lakh deposited by one Purna Padhi.”
“The suspected account we have been pointing out, i.e. 55373, money has been transferred from it into 55246 bank account of BJD. Who are the persons who have given this money is yet to be made clear either by the Chief Minister or any of the party spokespersons. Hence, we were bound down to knock the doors of ED (Enforcement Directorate). We’ve submitted a memorandum seeking an enquiry into it. After the probe the real face of the so-called clean image of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be exposed before the people of Odisha,” the BJP leader stated.
On the contrary, BJD spokesperson Samir Dash defended, “The way BJP is visiting Election Commission, Income Tax and ED is simply dramatics. It’s being undertaken to confuse the people of Odisha. Legally, their stand holds no water. People of Odisha have been reposing trust in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the last 17 years. They have already examined his style of activities and functioning. All such theatrics of BJP will fall flat at last. Eventually, the people will draw the conclusion.”
Notably, the BJP delegation led party national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday met the Election Commission of India and submitted a memorandum demanding disqualification of Naveen Patnaik as a legislator.
The team alleged Naveen Patnaik has filed false poll affidavit and thereby, he has committed a crime.
Talking to media at the national capital, Patra claimed that Naveen has filed a false poll affidavit and lied to people as well as the Election Commission as his poll affidavit shows Rs 13 lakh has been transferred to his bank account through RTGS. However, statement of expenditure mentioned in the party’s affidavit says Naveen did not get funds through RTGS. Instead, Rs 16.48 lakh was transferred through bank cheque to Naveen’s account.
