Bhubaneswar: Senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi, who landed in controversy after the Central Bureau of Investigation issued summons to him in connection with a bribery case, had reportedly fled to Delhi to avoid interrogation by the CBI.
As per the media reports, the IAS officer was supposed to appear at the CBI office in Bhubaneswar on December 11, but he stayed at Ashok Hotel in Delhi. His accommodation was arranged by the State Government.
The Home Department had arranged an Executive Suite for Sethi of the hotel for three days.
The CBI had issued the notice to Sethi on December 10, seeking his presence at its Bhubaneswar office on December 11 in connection with a Rs 10 lakh bribery case. However, Sethi did not appear before the investing agency, as per reports.
“It is learnt that you are acquainted with some important and relevant facts and circumstances of the instant CBI case, which are required to be ascertained from you,” the CBI wrote a letter to Sethi.
But it has now been revealed that the senior IAS officer had avoided the CBI summons and gone to Delhi. He stayed at Ashok Hotel from December 11 to 13. The State Government had arranged the accommodation for him, as per reports.
As the renovation of Odisha Bhawan in Delhi is underway, an executive suite was reserved for him at Ashok Hotel. While the daily charge for the Ashok Hotel suite/room was Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, Sethi stayed there for just Rs 120.
Now the question arises whether Sethi had gone to Delhi on office work or on person work. Was the Home Department unaware of the CBI summons to Sethi?
Meanwhile, the State Government has shunted out Sethi from his current major positions at three departments and appointed him as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the General Administration & Public Grievance Department.