Berhampur: With the arrest of Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi in the jobs for money scam, one of his close accomplices and Suroda MLA Purna Chandra Swain is now under scanner. There have been a number of allegations against the three times MLA from Surada regarding land transactions that are alleged to be illegal.
A group of dalits and farmers Thursday protested in front of the vigilance office in Berhampur and demanded investigations in the alleged land dealings involving Purna Swain and Pradeep Panigrahi. The protestors have alleged that Purna in association with Pradeep has amassed huge black money through illegal activities and their political clout and are grabbing hundreds of acres of land in the Suroda Tehsil of Ganjam District.
It is alleged that Purna has constructed seven fish ponds in Kaduapalli village in Paikata Panchayat in the name of his wife and other relatives. It is also aleeged that he has a concrete bricks manufacturing plant on 50 acre land patch. The groups demanding action against Purna have alleged that he is using the LAD funds for his own financial gains. There are also various allegations that he along with Pradeep have encroached upon government and forest land which hundreds of tribals and dalits use for their livelihoods. It is also alleged that Purna swain owns two vehicle dealerships and liquor shops in Suroda and a number of houses in Berhampur, Bhubaneswar and other cities. Now local people are surprised how Purna Swain, coming from a not so economically good family, has become so rich.