Pradeep Panigrahi Fraud Case: Sarbeswar Rao… the Missing Dots

Multiple investigating agencies including a Special Investigating Team of the Crime Branch, Enforcement Directorate and the Commissionerate Police have already intensified their investigations into the alleged job fraud case by Aksah Pathak, son of Abhay Pathak, the suspended IFS officer. An interesting angle to the fraud by the youngster is his links with the disgraced MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, and the vital links were strengthened by people like Sarbeswar Rao, the so called advisor to the MLA and the mastermind of looting gullible youth in Ganjam district. His link is vital in the investigations into the multi-crore scam. He could be the missing dots in the Pradeep Panigrahi-Akash case.

Many persons in the knowhow from Berhampur who did not wish to disclose their names have confirmed that Sarbeswar Rao, the former principal of City College, Berhampur, was providing the data base of students to lure them for jobs and he is the person who could spill the beans of Pathak- Panigrahi  job fraud syndicate.

Rao should be brought under the purview of the ongoing probe on the alleged Tata Motors recruitment fraud. He could throw light on many more frauds, said Sabita Patra, General Secretary of the BJP, Women Cell.

Many lawyers including Sudhansu Panda, Secretary, Ganjam Lawyers Association, alleged that, it is an open secret that Sarbeswar Rao was taking all important decisions regarding all the deal and transactions on behalf of Pradeep Panigrahi.

The controversial MLA from Gopalpur, who is now cooling his heels in the jail used to say that whatever Sarbeswar Rao would tell I will do accordingly, so meet Sarbeswar Rao first, the lawyer alleged.

Who is this Sarbeswar Rao? What is his role in Pradeep Panigrahi Case?

Sarbeswar Rao is a resident of Tirupati Peta Street of Chhatrapur town and started his career as an English Lecturer in Khemundi College, Digapahandi way back in 1980. He was the principal of City College Berhampur from January 28,  2011 to September 30 2011, the period during which Pradeep Panigrahi was the Chairman of the College management committee. During this period, Sarbeswar Rao came closer with Pradeep Panighrahi and after his retirement, he is believed to have been working as the advisor of Pradeep Panigrahi. Many people from Berhampur and Gopalpur alleged that Panigrahi used to take all important decisions in consultation with Sarbeswar Rao and he knows all the fraud details of Panigrahi. Be it the management of Gopalpur Beach Festival or any Meeting of the MLA, Sarbeswar Rao was always seen near Panigrahi like a shadow.

Many in Berhampur believe that once Sarbeswar Rao is caught by the people, he could spill the beans of a probably much bigger scam.