Sarua Land Scam: Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha Lodges Complaint against Baijayant Panda, Jagi Panda

Bhubaneswar: In a major development, the Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha on Friday filed a complaint against BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda and his wife Jagi Mangat Panda in connection with the Sarua land scam case.

The complaint was lodged at the Capital Police Station here, according to the reports.

The Mahasabha has sought registration of case against the Panda couple under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Both Baijayant and Jagi Panda are the major shareholders and promoters of Odisha Infra Tech Private Ltd, which had allegedly grabbed 7 acres of land belonging to Scheduled Caste people at Sarua in Khordha district through fraudulent means.

The Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha has also demanded arrest of the Panda couple.

Earlier in the day, Manoranjan Sarangi, who was arrested and court-forwarded by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of State Crime Branch in connection with the Sarua land scam, had quit the post of Chief Finance Officer of Odisha Television (OTV) and Director of Odisha Infra Tech Private Limited.

The development comes a day after the Income Tax (IT) Department has been asked to probe into the allegedly fraudulent transactions made by Odisha Infra Tech during purchase of land in Sarua in Khordha district.