Odisha Police summons Pandian, ex-CM Patnaik’s aide, over two missing CMO files
Odisha Police have summoned V. Karthikeya Pandian, a former aide to ex-CM Naveen Patnaik, regarding the disappearance of two sensitive government files. The investigation concerns reports on a 2008 killing and a hospital fire incident.
Why it matters
The case reflects political tensions in Odisha following a change in government and raises questions about administrative accountability and record-keeping.
Odisha Police on Wednesday summoned V. Karthikeya Pandian, a close aide of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, to appear before a probe team investigating the disappearance of two files from the CM’s Office (CMO) during the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime.
The Capital police station asked Mr. Pandian to appear before the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police Zone-1, Bhubaneswar, for questioning. The former IAS officer has been asked to bring documents, electronic devices or other materials relevant to the investigation in his possession on July 25.
Senior IAS officer Rajesh Verma, then Principal Secretary to the CM, and Manoj Mishra, former IT Secretary, were asked to provide information regarding the disappearance of the files. While Mr. Mishra appeared before the probe team on Tuesday, Mr. Verma, who was summoned on Wednesday, did not turn up.
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