FIR filed against Nayagarh collector on mine leaseholder’s complaint

Sushant Kumar Barad told the Orissa high court that he filed complaints against the district collector with the Chandpur police station but no action was taken, forcing him to approach the high court.

Updated on: Apr 20, 2023, 21:29:21 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneswar: A first information report (FIR) has been registered against the Nayagarh district collector Rabindra Nath Sahu on the complaint of a laterite mines leaseholder, who alleged that the official demanded ₹25 lakh in bribes from him. The case was registered following orders of the Orissa high court on a petition by the mines leaseholder Sushant Kumar Barad.

The FIR against Nayagarh district collector RN Sahu and three others has been registered under multiple sections of the IPC (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The FIR against Sahu and three others has been registered under sections 294 (obscene acts or words), 506 (criminal intimidation), 385 (causing fear or injury to commit extortion), 167 (public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury) and 34 (criminal act done by several persons with common intention) of IPC on the basis of a complaint lodged by 35-year-old Barad.

According to Barad, the district collector and three others visited Mayurjhalia laterite mine area on January 26 and asked for bribe of ₹25 lakh. The three other persons, who have been booked are Dillip Kumar Samantaray, Deepak Kumar Routray and Ganeswar Mandhata.

Barad told the high court that he filed complaints against the district collector with the Chandpur police station but no action was taken, forcing him to approach the high court.

Chandpur police station inspector Mukesh Behera said the investigation into the allegation is currently underway. “More information about the incident could be divulged following the completion of the probe,” he said.

District collector Sahu refuted the allegations, saying the allegations have been levelled to divert attention from illegal mining done by the leaseholder.

“NGT has slapped a fine of ₹2.81 crore on the mining lease holder following a survey. Section 144 has also been clamped in the mining area,” Sahu said. The senior official added that he hadn’t even seen that place that he was accused of visiting and that he was busy with various programmes on January 26 on account of Republic Day celebrations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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