The BJP on Monday brought serious charges against the Orissa advocate general (A-G) Ashok Mohanty saying that the latter colluded with a chit fund czar to shield him against “strong” legal actions. BJP-associate member in the Orissa Legislative Assembly Pratap Sarangi, while addressing a press conference here, said the A-G had “dubiously” purchased a land with a building constructed on it at Cuttack from Pradip Sethy, the tainted chief of AT Group who is now behind bars for cheating hundreds of depositors.
On October 6, 2012, the Balasore town police registered a case No. 352 against Pradip Sethy and booked him under Sections 420, 506, 34 of Indian Penal Code and Sections 4.5,6 of the Prize Chit and MC Schemes (Banning) Act 1978.
“When Sethy was on the police run during this period, the AG in his personal capacity informed the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) that he has taken possession of the Plot No. 11-3 (b)/1332 at CDA, Cuttack, paying over ` 1 crore. He also deposited `2.96 lakh with the CDA on behalf of Sethy as transfer fee. Such a transaction smacks of a well-calculated move by the AG to shield the biggest chit fund scamster of the state,” Mr Sarangi alleged.
Pradip Sethy, in his affidavit, clarified that he had received the amount from the AG but the mode of payment has not been mentioned. Similarly, the mandatory notification was published in an Oriya daily newspaper, but without the name of the fathers and permanent address of the seller and buyer, the legislator said.
“This was clearly done with the intent to hoodwink the police. This shows the clear complicity among the AG, the CDA and the scamster Pradip Sethy. The BJP demands immediate removal of the A-G and transparent probe into the whole affair,” Mr Sarangi said.
Stating that the AG and the BJD government stood accused of subverting the laws, Mr Sarangi said although the chief minister was apprised of the development, he had not acted upon it.
When contacted, advocate-general Mohanty said, “They (the BJP) leaders are trying to play their part of politics. I’m a professional. I will certainly show the land and building purchase deal in my income tax statement and prove the legitimacy in the entire transaction.”