No name figures in FIR

BHUBANESWAR: The long arm of the law at last seems to be catching up with the BJD bosses over the issue of horse-trading in the 2010 Rajya Sabha elections. Police on Tuesday lodged an FIR following instructions of the Home department to probe the allegations and prosecute the guilty.The FIR, which does not name anyone, has been filed against some ‘unknown ministers and MLAs’ who were allegedly involved in the incident. The Government was forced to act after a directive from the Election Commission on August 29.The EC swung into action after a complaint from former Union minister Braja Kishore Tripathy alleging the hand of the ruling BJD in horse-trading.But the State Government’s belated action seems to be another ploy to hush up the entire matter as it has the potential to blow up in the faces of bigwigs in the BJD.Though the EC’s directive mentions the involvement of some ministers and MLAs, lodging an FIR against without naming anyone raises question. Besides, why the Government is acting on such a directive from the EC is also a big question.Since the issue pertains to Rajya Sabha polls, the directive and instructions should have ideally gone to the Speaker of the State Assembly, who is returning officer of all Rajya Sabha polls.According to sources, the State Government received a two-page report from the commission along with several enclosures. These included one CD relating to the disclosure (by Kanak TV) of the involvement of two ministers __ Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Pushpendra Singhdeo __ in the alleged purchase of Congress MLA Shivaji Majhi.Transcript of the conversation of Kanak TV bulletin, which purportedly included Singhdeo’s voice, running into three minutes, and some newspaper reports were also attached to the EC report. The commission has also asked the Government to communicate to it any further development or action taken by it.While Nayak denied any involvement, Singhdeo was not available.Police Commissioner Bijay Kumar Sharma, on receipt of a letter from the Joint Secretary in the Home department, on Tuesday asked the capital police station to register a case under Sections 7, 8, 9 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 1957 and Section 171 (E) read with 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy of the IPC.ACP Nihar Das has been appointed the investigating officer.

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